LOC15:13
12:13 GMT
LONDON, June 13 (KUNA) -- A soldier has been killed by an explosion in
southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said on Saturday.
The soldier from the 2nd Battalion, the Rifles, was killed by the blast
during an operation near Sangin in northern Helmand Province early on Thursday.
His death came as colleagues paid tribute to another British soldier who
was killed by an explosion near Kandahar early on Thursday.
Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said
"it is with deep regret that we report the death of another soldier in Helmand
Province."
"Our deepest heartfelt sympathies go out to the soldiers and officers of
2nd Battalion, the Rifles, and the bereaved friends and family of this brave
soldier."
General Richard Blanchette, spokesman for the NATO-led International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF), said yesterday's death was the result of an
improvised explosive device (IED) strike.
The latest death takes the number of British service personnel who have
died in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001 up to 168.
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