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| Third soldier dies in Afghanistan | Third soldier dies in Afghanistan |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A third British soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, hours after the deaths of two soldiers in Helmand, the Ministry of Defence has said. | A third British soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, hours after the deaths of two soldiers in Helmand, the Ministry of Defence has said. |
| The death takes the number killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 179 - the same number as killed in the Iraq war. | |
| The soldier, from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, died in the country's south. His next of kin have been informed. | The soldier, from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, died in the country's south. His next of kin have been informed. |
| Ten British soldiers have now died in Afghanistan this month, including the two in separate attacks on Thursday. | Ten British soldiers have now died in Afghanistan this month, including the two in separate attacks on Thursday. |
| The serviceman who died on Friday was killed near Nad Ali, Helmand province. | |
| Lt Col Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "The loss of this brave Tankie has hit us all deeply. We grieve for him at this very sad time. | |
| "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues who feel the greatest loss. His loss has not been in vain." | |
| Fight 'winnable' | |
| One of the two soldiers to die on Thursday was from 4th Battalion The Rifles. He was killed in a blast while on foot patrol near Nad Ali. | |
| The second, 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 second, 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. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown responded to the news of the first two deaths from Italy, where he is attending the G8 summit. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown responded to the news of the first two deaths 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." |
| Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth insisted that the conflict was "winnable" but warned that there would be no early end to the fighting. | Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth insisted that the conflict was "winnable" but warned that there would be no early end to the fighting. |