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Post by Frenchie on Oct 22, 2009 17:58:40 GMT 1
A British soldier from the Royal Military Police has been killed in southern Afghanistan today, the Ministry of Defence has announced. The serviceman died while on a foot patrol near Gereshk district centre in Helmand province this morning. Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "It is my sad duty to confirm the death of a soldier, a Royal Military Policeman, in an explosion earlier today in Helmand Province. "He died doing his duty and we will remember him." The death, the fourth this month, takes the number of British troops who have died since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001 to 222. Next of kin have been informed.
Earlier this month the Prime Minister agreed "in principle" that 500 more troops will be sent to Afghanistan. It means that the number of British forces in the country would rise to 9,500. It is understood the Royal Anglian Regiment is to be deployed to Helmand to fulfil the role, ahead of the return next month of the Black Watch battle group from Kandahar. In a Commons statement, Mr Brown said he was responding to "clear military advice" from the Chiefs of Staff and from military commanders on the ground.
Source: Sky News
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