UK troops end deadly mission in Taliban heartland

The UK's heaviest losses have been suffered in the Afghan town, a third of the 337 deaths since 2001 happening in the area – and 36 this year alone.

Ministers announced the transfer of authority in July. Control of the area was handed from 40 Commando Royal Marines to the US Marine Corps just after 6.30am yesterday.

The Ministry of Defence described the handover as the last move in the "rebalancing" of the International Security and Assistance Force (Isaf) across Helmand, which will allow 1,000 Royal Marines and other UK forces to be redeployed to the central part of the southern Afghan province.

The transfer came as a British soldier killed in Helmand on Saturday was named as Trooper Andrew Howarth, of the Queen's Royal Lancers.

Prime Minister David Cameron said he still intended to end Britain's combat presence in Afghanistan by 2015 and praised the efforts of the forces in the Afghan town.

"Our troops have performed magnificently in Sangin and I pay tribute to the thousands who have served, to the over 100 who have given their lives and the many who have been wounded," he said.

"They did not die in vain. They have made Afghanistan a safer place and they have made Britain a safer place and they will never be forgotten."

Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox said: "British forces have served in Sangin over the last four years and should be very proud of the achievements they have made in one of the most challenging areas of Afghanistan."

Ministry of Defence spokesman Maj Gen Gordon Messenger, a former commander of the UK Helmand task force, insisted the handover was not an admission of defeat.

"British troops redeploying from Sangin are handing over a strong, forward-looking operation which has, over the last four years, ensured that the authority of the Afghan government exists even in an area that the Taliban regard as their heartland," he said.

"Our troops operating in Sangin have been taking the fight to the Taliban and by doing so have reduced the threat of violence spreading elsewhere. The progress and momentum in central Helmand would not have been possible without their endeavour and sacrifice."

Afghan election observers meanwhile raised serious concerns about parliamentary elections at the weekend because of reported fraud.

As President Hamid Karzai commended the elections as a success, complaints that anti-fraud measures had not worked raised questions about the credibility of the vote, which was also hit by militant attacks that reduced turnout.

At least 21 civilians and nine police officers were killed during the voting, said officials, and the bodies of two polls workers kidnapped in northern Balkh province were found later.

First vote counts will be released in a few days' time but the gathering and tallying of results could last weeks or months, with full preliminary results not expected until early October. Fraud investigations will take place before winners are officially announced.