Afghanistan: British soldier killed in explosion (IED)

Tuesday, 09 February 2010

LONDON (AP) — Britain's military says a soldier working with a specialized bomb unit in Afghanistan has been killed in an explosion.

Lt. Col. David Wakefield said in a statement Monday the serviceman died in the Nad-e-Ali district of Afghanistan's southern Helmand province.

The soldier was part of a task force tackling road side bombs and improvised explosive devices.

Wakefield says the explosion happened on Monday morning as the soldier led a route clearance team.

The victim, who has not yet been named, is the 256th British soldier to die in Afghanistan since operations began in 2001.

Britain's military earlier announced two soldiers from the Royal Scots Borderers were killed Sunday in an explosion near the Helmand district of Sangin.