British soldier dies in helicopter crash

By Ben Farmer in Kabul

A British soldier has died in Afghanistan after a helicopter crashed while taking off from a military base.

The unnamed soldier from 22 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, died alongside two Canadians.

A spokesman said the crash had not been caused by enemy fire, but it was not yet known whether a mechanical failure in the Canadian Griffon helicopter or a pilot error was to blame.

A spokesman for the Nato-led forces in Afghanistan said the crash happened in Zabul province, and not in Helmand where British forces are in the third week of a major offensive in a Taliban stronghold.

The death brings the total number of British casualties in Afghanistan to 175 since operations began in 2001.

It is the sixth British death in the past week.

Major Luc Gaudet said: "An air wing flight safety investigation is under way and it has determined that the crash did not occur as a result of enemy fire." The Griffon helicopter is widely used by the Canadian military and carries three crew and up to 10 passengers.

The Canadians who died were named as Master Corporal Pat Audet and Corporal Martin Joannette.

Seven more international soldiers were killed in the country on Monday, six of them by homemade bombs and one from hostile fire.

More than 170 international soldiers have lost their lives in Afghanistan this year, and casualties are expected to climb as thousands of reinforcements push into Taliban heartlands.

Insurgent attacks have climbed steadily in recent years, with this summer seeing the most frequent attacks since the Taliban regime was toppled in 2001 for harbouring al Qaeda.

Commanders fear violence could escalate further still in the approach to next month's presidential election.