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| Two more UK deaths in Afghanistan | Two more UK deaths in Afghanistan |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two more UK troops have died in separate attacks in Helmand province in Afghanistan, the eighth and ninth soldiers to be killed this month. | Two more UK troops have died in separate attacks in Helmand province in Afghanistan, the eighth and ninth soldiers to be killed this month. |
| One soldier was killed in an explosion and the second died from a gunshot wound. Their next of kin have been informed, the Ministry of Defence said. | One soldier was killed in an explosion and the second died from a gunshot wound. Their next of kin have been informed, the Ministry of Defence said. |
| The soldiers, who died on Thursday, were from 4th Battalion The Rifles and Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment. | The soldiers, who died on Thursday, were from 4th Battalion The Rifles and Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment. |
| The number of UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001 is now 178. | The number of UK soldiers killed in Afghanistan since 2001 is now 178. |
| The soldier from 4th Battalion The Rifles was killed in a blast while on foot patrol near Nad Ali on Thursday afternoon. | The soldier from 4th Battalion The Rifles was killed in a blast while on foot patrol near Nad Ali on Thursday afternoon. |
| The soldier from Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, attached to 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed during an engagement with insurgent forces near Lashkar Gah on Thursday evening. | The soldier from Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, attached to 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed during an engagement with insurgent forces near Lashkar Gah on Thursday evening. |
| The latest deaths bring the toll in Afghanistan to just one short of the 179 personnel killed during the British operation in Iraq, which has now ended. | The latest deaths bring the toll in Afghanistan to just one short of the 179 personnel killed during the British operation in Iraq, which has now ended. |
| BRITISH FATALITIES IN AFGHANISTAN MARCH 2006 - JULY 2009 September 2006: Highest monthly toll with 19 dead including 14 killed when a RAF Nimrod crashes in Afghanistan.June 2008: British death toll reaches 100 with the death of Pte Daniel Gamble, above. Among the 13 fatalities in June is the first British female soldier.May 2009: Surge in casualties as Taliban use powerful Improvised Explosive Devices to attack British forces. | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown responded to the news from Italy, where he is attending the G8 summit. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown responded to the news from Italy, where he is attending the G8 summit. |
| "This is a very hard summer, it's not over but it's vital that the international community sees through its commitment [to Afghanistan]," he said. | "This is a very hard summer, it's not over but it's vital that the international community sees through its commitment [to Afghanistan]," he said. |
| "There's a recognition that this is a task that the world has got to accept together. | "There's a recognition that this is a task that the world has got to accept together. |
| "We must and we will do everything we can to support our forces as they put their lives on the line." | "We must and we will do everything we can to support our forces as they put their lives on the line." |
| Lt Col Nick Richardson said: "These fine British soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice and their memory will live with us forever. | Lt Col Nick Richardson said: "These fine British soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice and their memory will live with us forever. |
| Gordon Brown reacts to the deaths of two more British soldiers in Afghanistan | Gordon Brown reacts to the deaths of two more British soldiers in Afghanistan |
| "We mourn their loss and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends at this very sad time. We know that their deaths were not in vain." | "We mourn their loss and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends at this very sad time. We know that their deaths were not in vain." |
| British forces are engaged in a major offensive in Helmand province, in the south of the country, and have been joined by about 4,000 US and 650 Afghan troops. | British forces are engaged in a major offensive in Helmand province, in the south of the country, and have been joined by about 4,000 US and 650 Afghan troops. |
| The joint campaign is designed to drive the Taliban out of the region and make it safe for presidential elections due next month. | The joint campaign is designed to drive the Taliban out of the region and make it safe for presidential elections due next month. |
| News of the two deaths came as the bodies of five soldiers killed in Afghanistan over the past week were returned to the UK. | News of the two deaths came as the bodies of five soldiers killed in Afghanistan over the past week were returned to the UK. |
| The aircraft carrying their coffins arrived at RAF Lyneham, in Wiltshire, for a repatriation ceremony. | The aircraft carrying their coffins arrived at RAF Lyneham, in Wiltshire, for a repatriation ceremony. |
| After the ceremony, hearses carrying the coffins passed through nearby Wootton Bassett, which was lined with hundreds of mourners. | After the ceremony, hearses carrying the coffins passed through nearby Wootton Bassett, which was lined with hundreds of mourners. |
| The former UK ambassador to the United Nations, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, has told the BBC he does not think the operation in Afghanistan was well-enough resourced. | The former UK ambassador to the United Nations, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, has told the BBC he does not think the operation in Afghanistan was well-enough resourced. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThe government is not doing enough for our military. We need a massive surge of British troops to take more of the fight to the TalibanJames McCartney, St Austell Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThe government is not doing enough for our military. We need a massive surge of British troops to take more of the fight to the TalibanJames McCartney, St Austell Send us your comments |
| He said: "We don't have enough troops in the Army to run these sorts of operations any more, we've cut down too far." | He said: "We don't have enough troops in the Army to run these sorts of operations any more, we've cut down too far." |
| But he said: "We want to see an Afghanistan that doesn't threaten us, therefore we do have dogs in this fight." | But he said: "We want to see an Afghanistan that doesn't threaten us, therefore we do have dogs in this fight." |
| Earlier this week Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said more soldiers would die before the operation in Afghanistan was over. | Earlier this week Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said more soldiers would die before the operation in Afghanistan was over. |
| In his first speech since being appointed defence secretary, Mr Ainsworth said the way forward in Afghanistan would be "hard and dangerous". | In his first speech since being appointed defence secretary, Mr Ainsworth said the way forward in Afghanistan would be "hard and dangerous". |