A British soldier was killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, the Ministry of Defence said. The Royal Marine was on a foot patrol in Gereshk in Helmand province, a stronghold of the Taliban, when he died. A spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, said: "This Marine gave his life for his country and the freedom of the Afghan people; there is no greater sacrifice than this."
The soldier's next of kin have been informed. The death came as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made a surprise visit to Helmand on Saturday to visit British troops. The latest casualty brings the number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan since the US-led 2001 invasion to 208.
British losses have increased sharply since the start of July when British and Afghan forces launched an operation against the Taliban in Helmand in a bid to create safe conditions for the presidential elections earlier this month.