British soldier killed in Afghanistan

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

The serviceman, from the 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, died yesterday on patrol east of Gereshk in Helmand Province. His next of kin have been informed.

His death takes the British death toll in Afghanistan since 2001 to 196.

The soldier was on foot patrol at the time, the MoD said.

Nato said he was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED)