British soldier killed in southern Afghanistan

LONDON, July 5 (Reuters) A British soldier was killed in southern Afghanistan today, becoming the sixth to die in the New mission in the area in the past four weeks.

''It was during a patrol in Sangin town. Members of 3 Para battle group were attacked by suspected Taliban forces,'' a Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said in London. ''A British soldier was killed during the incident.'' No further details were immediately available.

Britain has sent 3,300 troops to southern Afghanistan where they will shortly join an expanding NATO peacekeeping mission entering some of the country's most dangerous territory for the first time.

Commanders say the troops have moved deep into the mountains of northern Helmand province sooner than they had initially planned, where they have been battling Taliban guerrillas.

Two other soldiers were killed over the weekend.

REUTERS SHB RK2104