A military statement released Friday said the soldier was shot dead while conducting combat operations Wednesday near the city of Iskandariyah, some 50 kilometers south of the capital, Baghdad.

Separately, Iraqi police say unidentified gunmen attacked two Sunni Mosques as worshippers attended Friday prayers near the mainly Shi'ite southern city of Basra. At least one person was killed and several others wounded in the attacks.

Meanwhile, thousands of Shi'ite Muslims rallied Friday in Basra in a show of support for Iraq's new constitution and the Shi'ite-dominated government.

Anti-constitution rallies were also reported in the city of Ramadi, west of Baghdad. A referendum on the constitution is scheduled for October 15.