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UK soldier killed in Afghanistan Afghan toll up as UK soldier dies
(30 minutes later)
A British soldier from the Light Dragoons has been killed in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has announced.A British soldier from the Light Dragoons has been killed in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has announced.
The serviceman died in an explosion near Gereshk in Helmand Province on Tuesday night. The MoD says next of kin have been informed.The serviceman died in an explosion near Gereshk in Helmand Province on Tuesday night. The MoD says next of kin have been informed.
He was part of Operation Panther's Claw - a major assault against the Taliban.He was part of Operation Panther's Claw - a major assault against the Taliban.
The death, the seventh in a week, brings the number of UK service personnel killed in Afghanistan to 176.The death, the seventh in a week, brings the number of UK service personnel killed in Afghanistan to 176.
Defence secretary, Bob Ainsworth is due to reaffirm the UK's commitment to operations in Afghanistan in a major speech later. Meanwhile UK Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth is due to reaffirm Britain's commitment to operations in Afghanistan.
The Light Dragoons and 2 Mercian regiments are among 700 UK troops taking part in Panther's Claw, launched two weeks ago in Helmand.
The campaign is designed to drive the Taliban out of the region and make it safe for presidential elections due next month.
In speech in London later Mr Ainsworth will set out the nature of the campaign in Afghanistan, and say that winning the fight against the Taliban is in the UK's national interest.
But the assessment from commanders on the ground is that things will get worse before they get better, meaning further casualties are likely as the conflict intensifies, our correspondent added.