Memorial for UK Afghan soldiers

There are about 400 British troops in Kabul

British peacekeepers stationed in the Afghan capital, Kabul, have held a memorial service for two servicemen killed early on Saturday.

Sergeant Robert Busuttil and Corporal John Gregory, both aged 30, died of gunshot wounds sustained in a "non-hostile" situation at Kabul airport, the local British command has said.

Both soldiers died from gunshot wounds, and we believe that no other person, or groups were involve

Colonel Simon Levey

A Royal Military Police investigation is under way.

The commander of the 400-strong British contingent in the Afghan capital has said that no other people or parties were involved in what happened, but no other details have been released.

The men were colleagues in the Royal Logistics Corps.

They worked for a unit which supplied fuel to aircraft serving the 20-nation International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Kabul.

The men's bodies will be returned home when a coroner, appointed by the Royal Military Police, finishes his investigation.

Both men were based at Bulford Camp in Wiltshire in England.

A spokesman for the Kabul commander, Simon Levey, offered his deepest sympathies to the families of the two men.

He added that the matter of the deaths would now be taken up with the Ministry of Defence in London.

Tense situation

In the past three days there have been three separate small explosions in the capital.

Turkey took charge in June

Another British soldier serving with Isaf was killed earlier this year in a shooting accident.

British paratroopers came under fire in Kabul twice in one week in February.

Although there were no injuries - it was thought to have been armed thieves who were disturbed by the troops - defence experts warned the situation could spiral out of control.

Britain handed over control of Isaf to Turkey at the end of the Afghan grand assembly - the Loya Jirga - in June.

Isaf's role is limited to security duties in Kabul.

Most of the British troops engaged in Afghanistan - including 1,700 Royal Marines - returned home in June.