Three British soldiers killed in Afganistan
Pastor Dale Morgan
*Three British soldiers killed in Afganistan*
From correspondents in London
June 09, 2008 07:51am
Article from: Agence France-Presse
THREE British soldiers have died in a suicide attack in Afghanistan
today, taking the UK's toll of troops killed there since the 2001
invasion to 100.
A fourth soldier was wounded in today's attack with a "suicide explosive
device" during a routine foot patrol about one kilometre west of their
base in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, where most of Britain's
forces are based.
"Four soldiers were injured in the attack and were evacuated to the
medical facility at Camp Bastion," the defence ministry said.
All the soldiers, part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance
Force, were part of the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, it said.
"Sadly one soldier was pronounced dead on arrival and despite the best
efforts of the medical team, two of the soldiers died as a result of
their wounds.
"A fourth soldier is currently receiving treatment for his wounds and is
expected to make a good recovery."
The ministry said that the soldiers' next of kin had been informed. They
had requested a 24-hour grace period before further details of their
identities were released.
Britain has about 4000 soldiers stationed in Afghanistan, most of whom
are in Helmand, where the Islamist Taliban militia have been waging a
bloody insurgency since being ousted from power after the 2001 US-led
invasion.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the chief of the defence staff, said
the 100 soldiers who had lost their lives had "laid their lives down for
their country and their comrades".
Both he and Defence Secretary Des Browne insisted that their lives had
not been lost in vain.
Mr Browne described the progress made in southern Afghanistan as
"remarkable".
Air Marshal Stirrup said that troops there were "making good progress".
"They have transformed the heartland of the Taliban from an area of
lawless oppression and terrorism to a place of democracy and
development," Mr Browne said.