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| UK Afghan casualty rate hits high | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| British forces in Afghanistan suffered their highest injury rate this month since the mission began in 2001, new Ministry of Defence figures show. | British forces in Afghanistan suffered their highest injury rate this month since the mission began in 2001, new Ministry of Defence figures show. |
| A total of 57 UK troops were wounded in action in the first two weeks of July alone, compared with 46 in the whole of June and 24 in May. | A total of 57 UK troops were wounded in action in the first two weeks of July alone, compared with 46 in the whole of June and 24 in May. |
| Of the injuries in the first 15 days of July, 16 service personnel were seriously or very seriously wounded. | Of the injuries in the first 15 days of July, 16 service personnel were seriously or very seriously wounded. |
| July has also seen the most deaths - some 22 - since operations began. | July has also seen the most deaths - some 22 - since operations began. |
| An anti-war group said the rising casualty rate underlined how "unwinnable" the war in Afghanistan was becoming. | |
| The rise in injuries and deaths came as coalition forces completed the first phase of their heaviest offensive yet - Operation Panther's Claw - against the Taliban ahead of elections on 20 August. See a graph of UK casualties in Afghanistan | |
| Along with 38 UK personnel who were admitted to field hospitals suffering from disease or a non-battle injury in the first two weeks in July, there have now been some 2,650 casualties in Afghanistan since the start of MoD records in 2006. | Along with 38 UK personnel who were admitted to field hospitals suffering from disease or a non-battle injury in the first two weeks in July, there have now been some 2,650 casualties in Afghanistan since the start of MoD records in 2006. |
| This year, 61 have been "seriously" or "very seriously" hurt, compared with a total of 65 for the whole of 2008. | This year, 61 have been "seriously" or "very seriously" hurt, compared with a total of 65 for the whole of 2008. |
| We have certainly seen a surge in casualties. It is difficult to see young, fit guys who may have to have multiple amputations Lt Col Nigel Tai New life 'tough' after losing limb class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_yorkshire/8175908.stm">Blast soldier's body flown home class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/england/8175658.stm">Soldier takes war protest to PM | |
| The figures on casualties provided by the MoD do not include deaths, which are tallied separately. | The figures on casualties provided by the MoD do not include deaths, which are tallied separately. |
| A military surgeon told the BBC that treating the dying and wounded resulting from Operation Panther's Claw had proved a "very challenging" time for army medical teams. | A military surgeon told the BBC that treating the dying and wounded resulting from Operation Panther's Claw had proved a "very challenging" time for army medical teams. |
| Lt Col Nigel Tai said: "We have certainly seen a surge in casualties. It is difficult to see young, fit guys who may have to have multiple amputations. | Lt Col Nigel Tai said: "We have certainly seen a surge in casualties. It is difficult to see young, fit guys who may have to have multiple amputations. |
| "We try to salvage limbs, but at the same time we have to preserve life." | "We try to salvage limbs, but at the same time we have to preserve life." |
| A spokesman for the Stop the War campaign said government assertions about the success of anti-Taliban operations were rendered "absurd" by the rising casualty figures. | |
| "The British military under-estimated the strength of the Taliban forces opposing them when they launched this offensive," he said. | |
| "These figures show just how unwinnable this war is." | |
| The campaign group was due to accompany a serving soldier - L/Cpl Joe Glenton of the Royal Logistic Corps - to Downing Street on Thursday, where he planned to deliver a letter to the Prime Minister protesting against the conflict. | |
| The Yorkshire soldier is facing a preliminary court martial after saying he would not return to Afghanistan. | |
| 'Possible mistake' | 'Possible mistake' |
| Earlier, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said it had "possibly" been a mistake for the government to seek to reduce payouts made by a pensions appeal tribunal to two wounded servicemen. | Earlier, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said it had "possibly" been a mistake for the government to seek to reduce payouts made by a pensions appeal tribunal to two wounded servicemen. |
| But he told the BBC the case had to be brought to clear up confusion over compensation payments. | But he told the BBC the case had to be brought to clear up confusion over compensation payments. |
| Mr Ainsworth said: "In isolation, it possibly was [a mistake], but we had to clarify the situation that we were left with with the tribunal. | Mr Ainsworth said: "In isolation, it possibly was [a mistake], but we had to clarify the situation that we were left with with the tribunal. |
| "What I couldn't have is people with the exact same injury getting different levels of compensation and what I couldn't have is people with the most serious injuries not having that reflected in the payments that were made." | "What I couldn't have is people with the exact same injury getting different levels of compensation and what I couldn't have is people with the most serious injuries not having that reflected in the payments that were made." |
| Meanwhile, a plane carrying the bodies of the latest British soldiers killed in blasts in Afghanistan has arrived back at a military base. | |
| Warrant Officer Class 2 Sean Upton, of the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, and Trooper Phillip Lawrence, of The Light Dragoons, died in separate explosions in Helmand province on 27 July. | Warrant Officer Class 2 Sean Upton, of the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, and Trooper Phillip Lawrence, of The Light Dragoons, died in separate explosions in Helmand province on 27 July. |
| Bombardier Craig Hopson, of 40th Regiment Royal Artillery, died on 25 July in a roadside bomb attack. | Bombardier Craig Hopson, of 40th Regiment Royal Artillery, died on 25 July in a roadside bomb attack. |
| After the three men's families pay their respects at the chapel at RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire, the cortege is due to drive through the town of Wootton Bassett later. name="Graph"> | |
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