Two members of the Black Watch were seriously injured by a suicide car bomb in Iraq yesterday.

The attack occurred as British troops moved to the rebel-dominated east bank of the River Euphrates in an attempt to capture insurgent guerrillas and weapons.

The casualties occurred three days after three Black Watch soldiers died in a similar attack.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi government has imposed martial law for the next 60 days.

The move came as US forces began their long-awaited assault on the rebel stronghold of Fallujah.