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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Two UK soldiers killed in Helmand | Two UK soldiers killed in Helmand |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Two British soldiers have been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said. | Two British soldiers have been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said. |
| The soldiers, from Edinburgh-based 3rd Battalion The Rifles, were killed while on foot patrol near Sangin in Helmand province on Friday. | |
| Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield praised their "boldness in the face of danger". | Lieutenant Colonel David Wakefield praised their "boldness in the face of danger". |
| The soldiers' families have been told and they requested 24 hours grace before more details are released. | The soldiers' families have been told and they requested 24 hours grace before more details are released. |
| The soldiers are the 248th and 249th British military personnel to die in Afghanistan since 2001. | The soldiers are the 248th and 249th British military personnel to die in Afghanistan since 2001. |
| They were killed by an improvised explosive device, the MoD said. | They were killed by an improvised explosive device, the MoD said. |
| Success will not be measured by the number of insurgents killed or captured, but by the number of Afghans living peacefully within the constitution David Miliband Miliband in Kabul for strategy talks | Success will not be measured by the number of insurgents killed or captured, but by the number of Afghans living peacefully within the constitution David Miliband Miliband in Kabul for strategy talks |
| Col Wakefield, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "It is with deep sadness I must inform you that two British soldiers were killed by an explosion yesterday evening. | Col Wakefield, a spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "It is with deep sadness I must inform you that two British soldiers were killed by an explosion yesterday evening. |
| "They were on a foot patrol protecting the local population from insurgents when the attack happened." | "They were on a foot patrol protecting the local population from insurgents when the attack happened." |
| He added: "Their boldness in the face of danger, and the sacrifice they have made, will be remembered." | He added: "Their boldness in the face of danger, and the sacrifice they have made, will be remembered." |
| The deaths come as Foreign Secretary David Miliband arrived in the Afghan capital Kabul to discuss the country's future. | The deaths come as Foreign Secretary David Miliband arrived in the Afghan capital Kabul to discuss the country's future. |
| The trip comes ahead of a conference to be held in London on 28 January which will see the international community discuss strategy for Afghanistan. | The trip comes ahead of a conference to be held in London on 28 January which will see the international community discuss strategy for Afghanistan. |
| He told MPs as he left: "The politics is every bit as important as the military in this conflict, because success will not be measured by the number of insurgents killed or captured, but by the number of Afghans living peacefully within the constitution." | He told MPs as he left: "The politics is every bit as important as the military in this conflict, because success will not be measured by the number of insurgents killed or captured, but by the number of Afghans living peacefully within the constitution." |