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Afghanistan death soldiers named Afghanistan death soldiers named
(10 minutes later)
Two of the latest British military fatalities in Afghanistan have been named by the Ministry of Defence.Two of the latest British military fatalities in Afghanistan have been named by the Ministry of Defence.
The 200th soldier to die was Private Richard Hunt, 21, and the 201st was Sergeant Simon Valentine, 29.The 200th soldier to die was Private Richard Hunt, 21, and the 201st was Sergeant Simon Valentine, 29.
Five soldiers lost their lives over the weekend, bringing the number of UK service personnel killed since the start of the campaign to 204.Five soldiers lost their lives over the weekend, bringing the number of UK service personnel killed since the start of the campaign to 204.
Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth says the conflict in Afghanistan is "winnable".Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth says the conflict in Afghanistan is "winnable".
But he said it was "hard to get that message across to the British public".But he said it was "hard to get that message across to the British public".
A total of 13 UK personnel have died this month as troops try to shore up security ahead of elections this week.A total of 13 UK personnel have died this month as troops try to shore up security ahead of elections this week.
Mr Ainsworth told the BBC: "The troops know that we've made progress in the last few months, and I still firmly believe that Afghanistan is winnable.Mr Ainsworth told the BBC: "The troops know that we've made progress in the last few months, and I still firmly believe that Afghanistan is winnable.
"We can get this country to a place where they're able to protect their own security and prevent the Taliban's return.""We can get this country to a place where they're able to protect their own security and prevent the Taliban's return."
He added: "Over the next couple of years, there is a very real prospect that we can make substantial progress on the security side in Afghanistan.He added: "Over the next couple of years, there is a very real prospect that we can make substantial progress on the security side in Afghanistan.
"We can see increasingly the Afghan national army and the Afghan national police taking up front-line positions and our people increasingly involved in training and mentoring that force.""We can see increasingly the Afghan national army and the Afghan national police taking up front-line positions and our people increasingly involved in training and mentoring that force."
It's slow but we're making it day by day and we're helping improve the day to day lives of the Afghan people and also prevent the export of terrorism to the streets of the UK and wider Lt Col Nick RichardsonIt's slow but we're making it day by day and we're helping improve the day to day lives of the Afghan people and also prevent the export of terrorism to the streets of the UK and wider Lt Col Nick Richardson
He also said that UK troop numbers would be kept under review.He also said that UK troop numbers would be kept under review.
Mr Ainsworth added that it was "becoming almost impossible to say anything without it being taken out of context".Mr Ainsworth added that it was "becoming almost impossible to say anything without it being taken out of context".
He denied reports he had said control would be handed over to Afghanistan authorities within a year, and said comments by Gen Sir David Richards, the incoming head of the Army, that the UK might have a 40-year role in the country had been misrepresented.He denied reports he had said control would be handed over to Afghanistan authorities within a year, and said comments by Gen Sir David Richards, the incoming head of the Army, that the UK might have a 40-year role in the country had been misrepresented.
Military chiefs, meanwhile, have insisted that British troops in Afghanistan are "undeterred" by the violence.Military chiefs, meanwhile, have insisted that British troops in Afghanistan are "undeterred" by the violence.
Lt Col Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said British service personnel were making progress.Lt Col Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said British service personnel were making progress.
"The soldiers are undeterred, they're very focused on what they're doing here and they are very determined," he said."The soldiers are undeterred, they're very focused on what they're doing here and they are very determined," he said.
"It's slow but we're making it day by day and we're helping improve the day to day lives of the Afghan people and also preventing the export of terrorism to the streets of the UK and wider.""It's slow but we're making it day by day and we're helping improve the day to day lives of the Afghan people and also preventing the export of terrorism to the streets of the UK and wider."
Fatal blastsFatal blasts
He said the recent offensive against the Taliban - known as Operation Panther's Claw - had helped the Afghan people take up the chance to vote.He said the recent offensive against the Taliban - known as Operation Panther's Claw - had helped the Afghan people take up the chance to vote.
Full list of British fatalities Town feels pain of troop deathsFull list of British fatalities Town feels pain of troop deaths
Three British soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers died following an explosion while on patrol near Sangin in Helmand province on Sunday morning.Three British soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers died following an explosion while on patrol near Sangin in Helmand province on Sunday morning.
It followed the death of another soldier from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, who died of his injuries at a hospital in Birmingham on Saturday.It followed the death of another soldier from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, who died of his injuries at a hospital in Birmingham on Saturday.
On the same day a soldier from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers died after an explosion while on foot patrol in Sangin. The next of kin of all five have been informed.On the same day a soldier from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers died after an explosion while on foot patrol in Sangin. The next of kin of all five have been informed.
Deadly explosionsDeadly explosions
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.
Rifleman Daniel Wild, 19, from Easington in 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 Easington in 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.
Tony Philippson's son James was one of the first British soldiers to be killed in Afghanistan, and now questions why British forces ever became involved.Tony Philippson's son James was one of the first British soldiers to be killed in Afghanistan, and now questions why British forces ever became involved.
UK troops have been helping shore up security for Afghan elections this week Bob Ainsworth said he 'firmly believed' the Afghan mission was 'winnable'
"I think we need to analyse in more detail what [the government] set out to do."I think we need to analyse in more detail what [the government] set out to do.
"Specifically they said, and John Reid said this with no shots being fired of course, that they had to go into Afghanistan to prevent Al-Qaeda setting up the training camps that were destroyed in 2001 by the American bombing."Specifically they said, and John Reid said this with no shots being fired of course, that they had to go into Afghanistan to prevent Al-Qaeda setting up the training camps that were destroyed in 2001 by the American bombing.
"They went back in 2006, five years later, Al-Qaeda hadn't set up any training camps in those five years, the atrocities around the world hadn't stopped, they're still in business, they simply didn't need those training camps in Afghanistan, and this connection [Gordon] Brown and Ainsworth make with the streets of Baghdad, Kandahar and London is utter nonsense.""They went back in 2006, five years later, Al-Qaeda hadn't set up any training camps in those five years, the atrocities around the world hadn't stopped, they're still in business, they simply didn't need those training camps in Afghanistan, and this connection [Gordon] Brown and Ainsworth make with the streets of Baghdad, Kandahar and London is utter nonsense."
Gordon Brown has admitted that more than 30 deaths during July and August, as British troops went on the offensive to shore up security in time for Afghan elections this week, had made it "one of the most difficult summers yet".Gordon Brown has admitted that more than 30 deaths during July and August, as British troops went on the offensive to shore up security in time for Afghan elections this week, had made it "one of the most difficult summers yet".
The prime minister said the whole country mourned the loss of its soldiers.The prime minister said the whole country mourned the loss of its soldiers.
But he insisted they were engaged in a "vital" mission to protect Britain from terrorism and maintain a stable Afghanistan.But he insisted they were engaged in a "vital" mission to protect Britain from terrorism and maintain a stable Afghanistan.