Soldier serving with Royal Logistic Corps killed near Sangin in Helmand province
A British soldier was killed in an explosion yesterday in central Helmand province, Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said today.
The soldier was serving with the Royal Logistic Corps near Sangin when he was killed. Next of kin had been informed.
A spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield, said: "It is with great sadness I confirm that a soldier from the Royal Logistic Corps died in an explosion in Helmand province. He will be missed by us, his comrades, but he will not be forgotten."
The soldier's death takes to 224 the number of British service personnel who have died since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001, amid complaints from troops that a lack of equipment is endangering lives.
This year is on course to be the bloodiest 12 months for British forces since the Falklands war. Eighty-nine soldiers died on active service in 2007; this year's death toll already stands at 89 and it is likely to rise.
Six soldiers died in October, including Corporal Thomas Mason, from Fife, who died six weeks after he was injured by an improvised explosive device. In 2008, 51 members of the British forces died in Afghanistan, compared with 42 in 2007 and 39 in 2006. Between October 2001, when the mission began, and the end of 2005, five members of the British armed forces died.
Gordon Brown, who is under the pressure from the military to send more troops, said he hoped an Afghan government that responds to the will of the people would emerge following the decision of President Hamid Karzai's main rival to pull out of the election run-off.
Abdullah Abdullah announced he would not participate in the 7 November runoff presidential contest after his demands for changes in the election commission were not met.
The second round of voting was ordered after a review of August's first round ruled out large numbers of votes that it considered fraudulent. Abdullah announced today he would not take part, insisting a transparent election was not possible.
"This decision was clearly carefully considered, and I welcome Dr Abdullah's readiness to play a continued role in the national dialogue," Brown said. "I am confident that Afghanistan's leaders will support the remaining steps of the democratic process.
"Along with the whole international community, including our over 40 international partners in Afghanistan, we hope to see an Afghan government emerge that responds to the will of the people, that reaches out to all parts of Afghan society, and that is ready to take strong action to meet the challenges that Afghanistan faces."
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