UK soldier killed in Afghan blast

Some 87 UK personnel have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001

A British soldier has been killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said.

Five other soldiers were wounded in the blast, which happened on Sunday.

The soldier was a member of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers attached to the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery. Next of kin have been told.

He was killed and the others injured when their vehicle was hit by a mine 3km (1.8 miles) north east of Musa Qala, the MoD statement said.

The soldier was pronounced dead at the scene. A 24-hour period of grace has been requested by his next of kin before further details are released.

Disrupting enemy

All casualties were evacuated by helicopter to the International Security Assistance Force medical facility at Camp Bastion and Kandahar airfield, the statement said.

The personnel were disrupting enemy forces and reassuring local Afghans when they were hit, the MoD added.

The town of Musa Qala was in the Taleban's hands until last month, when troops from the UK, US and Afghanistan recaptured it.

The insurgents reportedly withdrew, heading for the mountains, rather than fight street by street to retain control.

British troops are understood to have kept a small presence there, but the main defence of the town and the surrounding area is led by the Afghan army.

The Taleban took over Musa Qala in February, despite a deal struck with tribal elders when UK troops withdrew.

The number of UK troops killed on operations in Afghanistan since 2001 now stands at 87.

A large number of international troops are fighting the Taleban-led insurgency in the south.

Attacks and roadside bombings against foreign soldiers are frequent.