British soldier shot dead in Afghanistan

Comrades said the soldier, from A Company 4 Rifles, part of the 3 Rifles Battle Group, was involved in "small arms fire" near a patrol base north east of Sangin.

His death brings the toll of British fatalities since the conflict

began to 267.

Next of kin have been informed, the Ministry of Defence said.

Another three Nato troops died in separate attacks across the country yesterday, including a suicide car bombing aimed at a military convoy in the Taliban-dominated south.

No details or nationalities of the other victims were released.

Nine Afghan civilians also died in four bombings in the south.

The deaths came as troops worked to consolidate control over the former insurgent stronghold of Marjah in the southern province of Helmand, where allied forces are waging the largest combined offensive of the eight-year-war.

The suicide attacker waited in a taxi for the Nato convoy to cross a bridge between Kandahar city and the airport, then detonated his explosives, tossing a military vehicle into a ravine.

A Nato service member and four Afghan civilians died in the attack.

In western Afghanistan two other Nato troops died in a mortar attack.