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British soldier killed in Afghanistan explosion

Other News Materials 12 June 2009 14:24 (UTC +04:00)

A British soldier was killed in an explosion during an operation in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said Friday, AFP reported.

The soldier, from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, was killed Thursday near the city of Kandahar.

"It is with great regret that we report the death of another soldier on Operation Herrick 10," said Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand.

"It is an incredibly sad day for the whole of the Task Force but our thoughts and prayers go out to the soldiers of The Black Watch and particularly the bereaved friends and family of the soldier during this very sad time."

The soldier's next of kin have been informed.

Britain has 8,300 troops in Afghanistan, rising to 9,000 for the August elections, largely battling Taliban insurgents in the south.

The death brings to 167 the number of British troops who have died since operations against the Taliban extremists began in October 2001. Of these, at least 138 were killed as a result of hostile action.

The British soldier is the 30th to die in Afghanistan this year.

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