British military fatalities due to be named

Two British soldiers killed in separate blasts in Afghanistan are expected to be named today.

A serviceman from 4th Battalion, The Rifles, died in a blast near Sangin in central Helmand Province yesterday morning.

His death followed an explosion which killed a soldier from the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles on Saturday afternoon.

Their deaths brought the total of British military deaths since the operation began in 2001 to 232.

Meanwhile, British troops will be at the forefront of the fighting in Afghanistan for five more years, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the head of the Armed Forces, has said.