British soldier is killed on deadly day for coalition

The soldier, from 11 EOD Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, was killed as a result of an explosion in the Musa Qaleh area in northern Helmand Province.

Three Americans, a French soldier and one more who have not been identified – died in separate incidents, underscoring warnings that casualties will increase as the fight against the Taliban steps up.

The Americans died in a battle with militants during an "operational patrol" in southern Afghanistan. That raised to at least 10 the number of US service members killed in Afghanistan so far this year.

A French officer was killed during a joint patrol with Afghan troops in Alasay, a valley largely under insurgent control that Nato is trying to reclaim. Another French service member was seriously wounded in the attack.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose country has lost 37 troops in Afghanistan since 2001, condemned what he called "blind violence" and expressed his determination to keep forces in the country.

The previous deadliest day was October 27 when eight US troops were killed. Seven CIA agents and a Jordanian intelligence officer were killed by a suicide bomber on December 30.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth backed calls for a rebalancing of Britain's responsibilities in Afghanistan which could see troops controlling a smaller area of Helmand province.

Mr Ainsworth told MPs that as more coalition forces arrive in the country it was right for commanders to reassess whether some British-controlled territory could be handed over to the Americans.

He was responding to Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox, who argued that Britain should play a role "proportionate to our force strength and configuration" in the south of Afghanistan.

Labour MP Andrew Mackinlay demanded to know why an enormous hydro-electric turbine transported through southern Afghanistan in September 2008 at "considerable" loss of life to British troops is still not working.

In the Commons Mr Ainsworth conceded progress on the hydro-electric project at Kajaki had been slower than expected.

"Nonetheless, the Kajaki Dam delivers electricity and we are hopeful to increase the amount of electricity it is providing," he told MPs.

Straw and Hoon to give evidence

Jack Straw and Geoff Hoon are to be the first members of Tony Blair's Cabinet to give evidence to the Iraq Inquiry. Mr Hoon, who was Defence Secretary during the invasion in 2003, will appear next week for two three-hour sessions on Tuesday.

He will be followed on Thursday January 21 by Mr Straw – the current Justice Secretary who was Foreign Secretary in 2003 – who will give evidence in a single three-hour session.

A witness next Monday is Jonathan Powell, who was Mr Blair's chief of staff at No 10 and a close adviser.