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| MoD names two dead British troops | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A British soldier killed in Iraq and a British marine killed in Afghanistan have been named by defence officials. | |
| Kingsman Alexander Green died while on duty in Basra and Marine Thomas Curry was killed during operations in the southern province of Helmand. | Kingsman Alexander Green died while on duty in Basra and Marine Thomas Curry was killed during operations in the southern province of Helmand. |
| Defence Secretary Des Browne said he was "greatly saddened" by the deaths. | Defence Secretary Des Browne said he was "greatly saddened" by the deaths. |
| The MoD said Marine Curry, 21, died in a mission clearing Taleban positions at Kajaki, Helmand province. | The MoD said Marine Curry, 21, died in a mission clearing Taleban positions at Kajaki, Helmand province. |
| 'Terrible loss' | 'Terrible loss' |
| Brigadier Jerry Thomas, commander of the UK Task Force in Afghanistan, said: "I send my sincere and heartfelt condolences to his family and to his friends. | Brigadier Jerry Thomas, commander of the UK Task Force in Afghanistan, said: "I send my sincere and heartfelt condolences to his family and to his friends. |
| "They have lost a much loved member of their family and a good friend and my thoughts are with them at this difficult time." | "They have lost a much loved member of their family and a good friend and my thoughts are with them at this difficult time." |
| He was shot by small arms fire and died later from his injuries despite being medically evacuated MoD spokeswoman UK Afghanistan fatalities British deaths in Iraq | He was shot by small arms fire and died later from his injuries despite being medically evacuated MoD spokeswoman UK Afghanistan fatalities British deaths in Iraq |
| Kingsman Alex Green, aged 21, from 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, died as a result of injuries sustained from small arms fire whilst on a mission in the Hayy Al Muhandisn district of Basra City. | Kingsman Alex Green, aged 21, from 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, died as a result of injuries sustained from small arms fire whilst on a mission in the Hayy Al Muhandisn district of Basra City. |
| Mortar attacks | Mortar attacks |
| Marine Curry, from east London and serving with Plymouth-based 42 Commando, was killed during running battles with Taleban fighters. | Marine Curry, from east London and serving with Plymouth-based 42 Commando, was killed during running battles with Taleban fighters. |
| The British troops crawled up a hill in the early hours of Saturday morning to launch an attack which left 16 suspected insurgents dead. | The British troops crawled up a hill in the early hours of Saturday morning to launch an attack which left 16 suspected insurgents dead. |
| Defence secretary said he was "greatly saddened" by deaths | Defence secretary said he was "greatly saddened" by deaths |
| Nato commanders said the insurgents, who were hiding out in mud-brick compounds, had been disrupting planned work on a nearby dam project. | Nato commanders said the insurgents, who were hiding out in mud-brick compounds, had been disrupting planned work on a nearby dam project. |
| The British camp in Kajaki had also regularly endured mortar attacks from the compounds, military officials said. | The British camp in Kajaki had also regularly endured mortar attacks from the compounds, military officials said. |
| They added that the decision to go after the militants was made after watching them for almost a month. | They added that the decision to go after the militants was made after watching them for almost a month. |
| Mr Browne said his "thoughts and sincere condolences" were with both servicemen's families, friends and colleagues "as they come to terms with this terrible loss". | Mr Browne said his "thoughts and sincere condolences" were with both servicemen's families, friends and colleagues "as they come to terms with this terrible loss". |
| Fierce battle | Fierce battle |
| Earlier this week British troops killed up to 100 Taleban fighters as they destroyed a key base in Helmand province. | Earlier this week British troops killed up to 100 Taleban fighters as they destroyed a key base in Helmand province. |
| It was described as the UK Task Force's biggest pre-planned operation in the area to date. | It was described as the UK Task Force's biggest pre-planned operation in the area to date. |
| There are currently 6,000 British troops in Afghanistan, with 1,000 based in the capital, Kabul, and 5,000 in Helmand. | There are currently 6,000 British troops in Afghanistan, with 1,000 based in the capital, Kabul, and 5,000 in Helmand. |
| In Iraq, there are 7,100 members of the British armed forces based around Basra in the south east of the country. | In Iraq, there are 7,100 members of the British armed forces based around Basra in the south east of the country. |
| The last soldier to die in Iraq was Sergeant Wayne Rees, 36, who was killed in a road accident in rural Maysan province on 7 January. | The last soldier to die in Iraq was Sergeant Wayne Rees, 36, who was killed in a road accident in rural Maysan province on 7 January. |