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Deaths take UK Afghan toll to 201 Deaths take UK Afghan toll to 201
(10 minutes later)
Two more British soldiers have been killed by explosions in Afghanistan, taking the number of personnel killed since operations began in 2001 to 201.Two more British soldiers have been killed by explosions in Afghanistan, taking the number of personnel killed since operations began in 2001 to 201.
One, from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh, died in hospital from wounds.One, from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh, died in hospital from wounds.
The second, from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, died after an explosion on Saturday while on foot patrol in Sangin, Helmand province.The second, from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, died after an explosion on Saturday while on foot patrol in Sangin, Helmand province.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown admitted it had been "a very difficult summer", but said progress was being made.Prime Minister Gordon Brown admitted it had been "a very difficult summer", but said progress was being made.
Paying tribute to those who had been killed, Mr Brown said their efforts were helping to make the world safer and that progress had been made in allowing forthcoming Afghan elections to take place.Paying tribute to those who had been killed, Mr Brown said their efforts were helping to make the world safer and that progress had been made in allowing forthcoming Afghan elections to take place.
By Ian Pannell, BBC correspondent in KabulBy Ian Pannell, BBC correspondent in Kabul
"Every year the level of violence has increased and with it the casualty rate."Every year the level of violence has increased and with it the casualty rate.
There are now growing criticisms about whether enough progress is being made, whether the strategy is right and whether or not British troops are protected enough in a conflict that still shows no signs of easing.There are now growing criticisms about whether enough progress is being made, whether the strategy is right and whether or not British troops are protected enough in a conflict that still shows no signs of easing.
The latest deaths come just four days before presidential elections. UK troops have been trying to make areas safe ahead of voting but that means more fighting and even more deaths as the insurgents try to disrupt the poll." Toll 'will raise questions'The latest deaths come just four days before presidential elections. UK troops have been trying to make areas safe ahead of voting but that means more fighting and even more deaths as the insurgents try to disrupt the poll." Toll 'will raise questions'
"We have created space in which we can have Afghan government, Afghan police and Afghan forces and that will make it very difficult for the Taliban and Al Qaeda to reassert themselves," he said."We have created space in which we can have Afghan government, Afghan police and Afghan forces and that will make it very difficult for the Taliban and Al Qaeda to reassert themselves," he said.
"Three quarters of the terrorist plots that hit Britain derive from the mountain areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan," he said."Three quarters of the terrorist plots that hit Britain derive from the mountain areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan," he said.
"And it is to make Britain safe and the rest of the world safe that we must make sure we honour our commitment to maintain and keep a stable Afghanistan.""And it is to make Britain safe and the rest of the world safe that we must make sure we honour our commitment to maintain and keep a stable Afghanistan."
Mr Brown insisted "every effort" was being made to ensure troops had the best security and equipment.Mr Brown insisted "every effort" was being made to ensure troops had the best security and equipment.
"We have increased dramatically the resources we are spending in Afghanistan to deal with this new kind of threat which is the roadside bomb, the electronic devices, the guerilla warfare.""We have increased dramatically the resources we are spending in Afghanistan to deal with this new kind of threat which is the roadside bomb, the electronic devices, the guerilla warfare."
The Royal Welsh soldier had been on vehicle patrol near Musa Qala in Helmand province on Thursday morning when he was hit by the explosion.The Royal Welsh soldier had been on vehicle patrol near Musa Qala in Helmand province on Thursday morning when he was hit by the explosion.
Brown 'mourns' loss of soldiers Brown mourns loss of soldiers
He died at a military hospital in Selly Oak, Birmingham, on Saturday. Neither he nor the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers soldier has been named, but their next of kin have been informed.He died at a military hospital in Selly Oak, Birmingham, on Saturday. Neither he nor the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers soldier has been named, but their next of kin have been informed.
A total of 10 UK personnel have died this month as troops attempt to shore up security ahead of August elections.A total of 10 UK personnel have died this month as troops attempt to shore up security ahead of August elections.
The latest deaths follow those of three soldiers killed by roadside bombs while on foot patrol in Helmand on Thursday.The latest deaths follow those of three soldiers killed by roadside bombs while on foot patrol in Helmand on Thursday.
Two had been attempting to help a comrade who had been wounded by an earlier blast.Two had been attempting to help a comrade who had been wounded by an earlier blast.
We must not fail in this task, and we will not Defence secretary Bob Ainsworth href="/2/hi/talking_point/8203767.stm">Have your say: Will UK succeed? We must not fail in this task, and we will not Defence secretary Bob Ainsworth href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6879&edition=1&ttl=20090816081909">Send us your comments
Rifleman Daniel Wild, 19, from County Durham, and Captain Mark Hale, both serving with the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, were carrying Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton, 23, of 40 Regiment Royal Artillery, from North Yorkshire, when they were hit by a second explosion.Rifleman Daniel Wild, 19, from County Durham, and Captain Mark Hale, both serving with the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, were carrying Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton, 23, of 40 Regiment Royal Artillery, from North Yorkshire, when they were hit by a second explosion.
Their patrol had been part of an operation intended to provide security for a pre-election Shura, or meeting of elders.Their patrol had been part of an operation intended to provide security for a pre-election Shura, or meeting of elders.
Colonel Richard Kemp was the commander of the British Army in Afghanistan when it went into Helmand.Colonel Richard Kemp was the commander of the British Army in Afghanistan when it went into Helmand.
He said: "The Taliban have learnt a very hard lesson for themselves. They can't take us on head to head and toe to toe and have resorted more to this kind of device.He said: "The Taliban have learnt a very hard lesson for themselves. They can't take us on head to head and toe to toe and have resorted more to this kind of device.
'Progress made''Progress made'
"Although our death toll is bad, theirs is considerably worse and sometimes we are talking about a ratio of 100 to 1 against the Taliban.""Although our death toll is bad, theirs is considerably worse and sometimes we are talking about a ratio of 100 to 1 against the Taliban."
Defence secretary Bob Ainsworth said news of the latest deaths made it a "grim day" and said Britain mourned every loss of life in the conflict.Defence secretary Bob Ainsworth said news of the latest deaths made it a "grim day" and said Britain mourned every loss of life in the conflict.
Colonel Richard Kemp: ''Soldiers are stoic people and will get on with their job''Colonel Richard Kemp: ''Soldiers are stoic people and will get on with their job''
But he insisted UK troops had been making "good progress" in their mission.But he insisted UK troops had been making "good progress" in their mission.
He accepted the recent offensive against the Taliban - Operation Panther's Claw - was a "tough fight", but said it had brought nearly 80,000 Afghans out from under the "tyranny of the Taliban".He accepted the recent offensive against the Taliban - Operation Panther's Claw - was a "tough fight", but said it had brought nearly 80,000 Afghans out from under the "tyranny of the Taliban".
Mr Ainsworth also said he believed the second Afghan presidential elections, to be held later this week, would offer more Afghans "a stake in their own emerging democracy" and provide greater security for the UK.Mr Ainsworth also said he believed the second Afghan presidential elections, to be held later this week, would offer more Afghans "a stake in their own emerging democracy" and provide greater security for the UK.
"It is only by supporting the Afghan government and its security forces to bring stability can we ensure that we prevent Afghanistan becoming the haven for terrorists it once was, protecting Britain from attack and promoting peace across the region."It is only by supporting the Afghan government and its security forces to bring stability can we ensure that we prevent Afghanistan becoming the haven for terrorists it once was, protecting Britain from attack and promoting peace across the region.
"We must not fail in this task, and we will not.""We must not fail in this task, and we will not."
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said passing the 200th death mark served as a "stark reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of British troops in Helmand".Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said passing the 200th death mark served as a "stark reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of British troops in Helmand".