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| Dead British soldier named by MoD | Dead British soldier named by MoD |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A British soldier killed while on foot patrol in southern Afghanistan has been named by the Ministry of Defence. | A British soldier killed while on foot patrol in southern Afghanistan has been named by the Ministry of Defence. |
| Lance Corporal Christopher Harkett, 22, from The 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Regiment, died on Saturday. | Lance Corporal Christopher Harkett, 22, from The 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Regiment, died on Saturday. |
| He was injured in an explosion while on foot patrol in Musa Qala in northern Helmand, and medics were unable to prevent him dying at the scene. | He was injured in an explosion while on foot patrol in Musa Qala in northern Helmand, and medics were unable to prevent him dying at the scene. |
| His death means 150 British service personnel have been killed in Afghanistan since operations began. | His death means 150 British service personnel have been killed in Afghanistan since operations began. |
| Major Sid Welham, commanding officer of C Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, said: "Lance Corporal Chris 'H' Harkett personified the spirit and character of The Royal Welsh. We find some peace in that he died bravely protecting people of a land that was far from his home Harkett family statement | Major Sid Welham, commanding officer of C Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, said: "Lance Corporal Chris 'H' Harkett personified the spirit and character of The Royal Welsh. We find some peace in that he died bravely protecting people of a land that was far from his home Harkett family statement |
| "H was ever smiling and always motivated whatever the situation. At the heart of his platoon, he was essential to their high morale." | "H was ever smiling and always motivated whatever the situation. At the heart of his platoon, he was essential to their high morale." |
| L/Cpl Harkett was trained at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate and subsequently at Catterick before joining the battalion in March 2004 in Paderborn, Germany. | L/Cpl Harkett was trained at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate and subsequently at Catterick before joining the battalion in March 2004 in Paderborn, Germany. |
| He trained as a medic, a gunner and a signaller and the Army said he had a bright future, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. | He trained as a medic, a gunner and a signaller and the Army said he had a bright future, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. |
| Short life | |
| A statement from his family said: "Although he has been taken from us at a young age, he lived life to the full. | A statement from his family said: "Although he has been taken from us at a young age, he lived life to the full. |
| "Our hearts are empty at this moment but we find some peace in that he died bravely protecting people of a land that was far from his home. | "Our hearts are empty at this moment but we find some peace in that he died bravely protecting people of a land that was far from his home. |
| He leaves behind a beautiful and loving wife and a younger brother who adored him." | He leaves behind a beautiful and loving wife and a younger brother who adored him." |
| His wife Danielle said: "I cannot begin to describe the pain and hurt I feel knowing I will not be with you again. | His wife Danielle said: "I cannot begin to describe the pain and hurt I feel knowing I will not be with you again. |
| "I only have the memories of our short life together, but I'm grateful that I had the privilege and honour to be your wife. " | "I only have the memories of our short life together, but I'm grateful that I had the privilege and honour to be your wife. " |
| Mr Hutton said fundamental extremism was a risk to UK citizens On Sunday Defence Secretary John Hutton said the Afghanistan war was a "fundamentally important" one which would "define much of the politics of the 21st century". | |
| He said UK troops, whom he paid tribute to, were in Afghanistan "first and foremost to tackle fundamental extremism which is a risk to the security of our citizens and our country". | |
| Troops were seeking to build up credible and determined Afghan security forces, he added. | |
| He said Nato's European members had to do more and not expect the US to do all the "heavy lifting". | |
| His comments, which come ahead of a meeting with his US counterpart this week, follow the death of four soldiers from the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force in an explosion in the province of Nangarhar, in eastern Afghanistan. | |
| The alliance does not disclose the nationalities of its casualties but most troops in that part of the country are from the US military. | |
| More than 60 foreign soldiers have now been killed in Afghanistan this year. |