British soldiers die after blast hits patrol

The pair died in an explosion on Saturday, during a vehicle patrol in the Lashkar Gah District of Helmand Province.

They were serving as part of Combined Force Lashkar Gah. Next of kin have been informed. A spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, said: "It is with great sadness I must inform you that a soldier from the Queen's Royal Lancers and a soldier from the Royal Engineers were killed this afternoon west of Lashkar Gah.

"They were attached to the 1st Battalion Scots Guards Battlegroup. The soldiers were part of a ground domination patrol when they were struck by an explosion.

"They will be greatly missed and their sacrifice will not be forgotten. We will remember them."

The number of British losses since the conflict in Afghanistan began in 2001 now stands at 337.

Meanwhile an insurgent rocket attack in northern Afghanistan killed six children, authorities said yesterday.

The Afghan Interior Ministry said in a statement the strike occurred in the Ali Abad district of Kunduz province.

It condemned the "un-Islamic and inhumane action" by the insurgents.

Civilian deaths in Nato military operations are a major source of contention between the alliance and Afghanistan's government, even though the United Nations says the insurgents are responsible for most civilian deaths and injuries.

Despite Taliban rocket strikes and bombings, Afghans voted for a new parliament, the first election since a presidential ballot marred by fraud last year cast doubt on the legitimacy of the embattled government.

As officials count votes over the next few days, the real test begins: Afghans will have to decide whether to accept the results as legitimate despite a modest turnout and early evidence of fraud.

The Taliban had pledged to disrupt the vote and launched attacks starting with a rocket fired into the capital before dawn on Saturday.

The insurgent group followed with a series of morning rocket strikes that hit major cities just as people were going to the polls - or weighing whether to risk it.

At least 11 civilians and three police officers were killed, said the Interior Ministry.