British soldier killed in Afghanistan

Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:47am BST

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LONDON (Reuters) - A British soldier was killed and two others were wounded when their patrol came under attack in southern Afghanistan, Britain's Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

The soldier from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, attached to the Parachute Regiment, died when his military vehicle was hit by an explosion on Tuesday, it said in a statement.

Two other soldiers from the same battalion were injured, one by a mine and one by an improvised explosive device. Their lives were not in danger.

The soldier's death brings to 111 the number of British troops killed since U.S.-led forces invaded Afghanistan to drive out the Taliban government and al Qaeda militants after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

(Reporting by Kate Kelland; editing by Richard Balmforth)

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