Patrolling British soldier dies in blast

A British soldier was killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan yesterday, the Ministry of Defence said.

The serviceman, from The Royal Dragoon Guards, died while on a vehicle patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province.

Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "He was part of a screening force that was providing protection to enable the building of a road in the Babaji area such that local Afghans could move more freely when he was struck by an explosion.

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"He died in the course of his duty and among his fellow soldiers. His courage and sacrifice will not be forgotten."

It emerged yesterday that a British private security guard killed in a suicide attack in northern Afghanistan was an ex-member of the Parachute Regiment.

Shaun Sexton, 29, from Ashington, Northumberland, died fighting off an assault on the offices of US aid contractor Development Alternatives Inc in Kunduz last Friday.

Three other security guards – one German and two Afghans – were killed in the attack, and a second Briton was injured.

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It is understood that Mr Sexton served with 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment before leaving the Army.

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Liam Fox said yesterday that it is "entirely realistic" that Britain will not have combat troops in Afghanistan in five years' time,

His comments to MPs came as the Government was accused of being "confused" over its Afghanistan policy.

At last month's G8 summit in Canada, David Cameron said he did not

expect troops to be in Afghanistan by 2015.

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Days later, in a speech in Washington, Dr Fox issued a blunt warning that Britain and its coalition allies needed to "hold our nerve" and show the resolve to "see the job through".

Yesterday, during defence questions Dr Fox was asked by Labour former defence minister Derek Twigg if he had received "advance notice" of the Prime Minister's comments.

He replied: "The G8 in Canada in June sent a collective signal that we want Afghan security forces to assume increasing responsibility for security within five years."

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