A British soldier has been killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said today.
The soldier, from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, was killed in a blast whilst on patrol near Gereshk, in the southern Afghan province of Helmand. His family have been informed.
"We share in the pain that is felt by his family, friends and colleagues at the loss of this courageous soldier," said military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson.
The soldier's death brings to 166 the number of British service personnel killed in Afghanistan since conflict began in late 2001.
Britain has around 8,000 troops based in Afghanistan, the vast majority serving in Helmand, a desert province that remains a heartland of Taliban-led insurgency.
Reuters