British soldier killed in Afghanistan blast

An explosion in Afghanistan has killed a British soldier carrying out an operation in the country's south, the Ministry of Defence in London said on Saturday.

An explosion in Afghanistan has killed a British soldier carrying out an operation in the country's south, the Ministry of Defence in London said on Saturday.

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"It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that a British soldier from the 2nd Battalion the Rifles was killed as a result of an explosion," the ministry said in a statement.

It said the blast occurred while the solider was on an operation near Sangin in Helmand province on Friday morning.

The death brings to 168 the number of British soldiers who have died since fighting against Taliban extremists began in October 2001.

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