UK troops killed in ambush

2006-08-01 14:45

London - An ambush on Nato security forces early on Tuesday in southern Afghanistan killed two British soldiers and a third is missing and presumed dead, officials said.

Insurgents attacked a patrol in Helmand province and soldiers were involved in an ongoing battle, a ministry spokesperson said, on customary condition of anonymity in line with policy.

"Two British soldiers have died, a third is unaccounted for and presumed killed and a fourth soldier is seriously injured," she said.

Militants launched an attack on the Nato-led International Security Assistance force patrol at around 06:30, using rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine gun fire, she said.

Britain has about 3 600 troops in Helmand as part of the Nato force and last month announced plans to increase numbers to 4 500 soldiers in the province by October.

The attack came a day after Nato took command of the south from the US-led coalition, with a mission to stabilise a region wracked by a Taliban-led insurgency and the drugs trade.

- AP