Afghanistan death toll reaches 199

Published on Thursday 13 August 2009 22:09

THREE more British soldiers have been killed in southern Afghanistan, taking the total UK death toll in the country to 199.

The servicemen, two from 2nd Battalion The Rifles and the third from 40 Regiment Royal Artillery, were hit by an explosion while on a foot patrol near Sangin in Helmand province yesterday. All three were serving with the Rifles battlegroup.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said: "The loss of these brave men, and of all those who have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002, is a tragedy. It brings us very close to the sad milestone of 200 fatalities.

"We cannot help but reflect on the toll the mission has taken on our people and their families and friends. But we must also keep in the forefront of our minds how important it is to the security of this country and its citizens.

"So many young men and women have been injured or given their lives to ensure that Afghanistan does not fall back into the hands of the extremists and the terrorists who seek to threaten us and our interests. We must succeed. And we will."

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "We will all feel the loss of these brave soldiers.

"But it is their family, friends and loved ones, as well as the men and women who served alongside them, who feel the greatest pain and we offer them our deepest and heartfelt condolences, thoughts and prayers."

The news was announced as another four UK soldiers killed in Helmand were returned to British soil.

The bodies of Corporal Kevin Mulligan, 26, of Alloa, Clackmannanshire; Lance Corporal Dale Hopkins, 23; Private Kyle Adams, 21; and Private Jason Williams, 23, were flown into RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire.

Hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects as hearses carrying their coffins were driven through nearby Wootton Bassett in what has become a sombre – and all too regular – tradition. There have been eight British fatalities in Afghanistan this month.

Last month, 22 UK servicemen died, the highest total since the mission began in 2001, as operations were stepped up ahead of elections on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Dame Vera Lynn questioned why Britain was involved.

The original Forces' Sweetheart, who is now 92, said: "I don't know what Afghanistan's all about. I don't know what we are doing there." She said she could understand why so many lives were sacrificed in the Second World War but could not comprehend the strategy in Afghanistan.

"At one time, our soldiers would fight for the country they came from to stop the enemy invading, but now they are involved in other countries' problems," she said.

She added she was still fully supportive of "our boys" despite her reservations.

MOD 'TOO SLOW WITH INFORMATION'

A WATCHDOG criticised the Ministry of Defence yesterday for delays in responding to requests for information.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said the MoD was not replying quickly enough to inquiries made under the Freedom of Information Act. Government departments are expected to write back within 20 working days, but in one case the MoD took over six months to reply.

The ICO said it was ordering the MoD to improve handling of reviews and hit the target in future.

An MoD spokesman said it would be introducing a target of replying within 20 days from April next year.