British soldier killed in explosion in Afghanistan: ministry

A British soldier was killed on Monday in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said, taking the country's military death toll there this year to 107, AFP reported.

The soldier, from the 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, died as a result of the blast while on patrol in the Kajaki area of southern Helmand province where British troops are based, the ministry said.

"He was caught by an explosion while on patrol in the Kajaki area of Helmand Province. His courage and his sacrifice will not be forgotten," said Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand.

His death brings the number of British troops killed since the US-led invasion in 2001 to oust the Taliban regime to 244, with 107 killed since the beginning of this year.

His family has been informed, the ministry said in a statement.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government recently announced a 150-million-pound (240-million-dollar, 168-million-euro) programme to combat the threat of improvised explosive devices, which cause the vast majority of British troop deaths.