The rocket hit a residential district outside the city of Abadanat 14:55 local time (1055 GMT), creating a 1.5-meter-deep pit on an asphalt road, the report quoted a local official as saying.

It remained unknown who was responsible for the firing of the rocket. But local officials said the rocket was obviously fired by the US-British coalition forces, the IRNA said.

Late last month, another stray rocket fired from southern Iraq struck an oil refinery depot in Abadan, injuring two people.

The Iranian government has yet reacted to the latest incident, but it played down the last incident, saying it was a natural consequence of the war in neighboring Iraq.

Iran has been taking a neutral stance toward the US-led war on Iraq which started on March 20.

(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2003)