By IRNA
London : Two Royal Marines have been killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in London announced Monday.
The deaths bring the number of British military fatalities in Afghanistan, since the start of operations in November 2001, to 93.
Six have so far been killed this year, 41 last year, 39 in 2006 and the other seven during the first five years.
The British marines were said to have been conducting a patrol near Kajaki, in Helmand province, shortly before 5pm local time (1.30pm BST) on Sunday when their vehicle was caught in an explosion.
The MoD reported that medical treatment was provided before both soldiers were taken to the field hospital at Camp Bastion but, despite the best efforts of the medical team, both soldiers died as a result of their wounds.
“It is with much sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that two soldiers serving with 40 Commando Royal Marines have been killed in an explosion on Sunday 30 March 2008, in southern Afghanistan,” a statement said.
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said one of the soldiers was pronounced dead on arrival at Camp Bastion and the second died shortly afterwards.
Some 7,800 British soldiers are serving in Afghanistan, the majority in the southern province of Helmand sent since spring 2006 to embark on combat operations against remnants of the former Taleban regime.