British soldier among 19 killed in Afghan violence

Nineteen people, including a British soldier, have been killed in Afghanistan in a series of attacks in the past two days, officials said today, in the latest violence following the traditional winter lull.

An Afghan police official said four policemen died today in a remote-controlled bomb attack in Spin Boldak, a town near the Pakistan border in southern Afghanistan.

Yesterday, seven Taliban insurgents were killed in an air strike by US led troops while planting roadside bombs in the southeastern province of Paktia, a provincial police official said.

The British soldier was killed yesterday when a roadside bomb hit his vehicle as it guarded a supply convoy travelling to Camp Bastion, the main British base in Helmand province, the British Ministry of Defence said.

The death brings the number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan since the overthrow of the Taliban in late 2001 to 94. There are some 7 800 British troops in Afghanistan, stationed mainly in the south. - Reuters