British soldier killed by mine in Afghanistan

LONDON (Reuters) - A British soldier died and four others were wounded in a mine blast in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, the Ministry of Defense said on Saturday.

The Household Cavalry Regiment soldier had been on patrol in the Nowzad area of northern Helmand on Friday when the vehicle he was traveling in hit a mine.

He was evacuated to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) medical facilities at Camp Bastion, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Three other Household Cavalry Regiment soldiers as well as an Afghan national were injured in the blast.

The death brings to 95 the number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan since the overthrow of the Taliban in late 2001.

Britain, a major troop contributor to the NATO force fighting Taliban and al Qaeda insurgents, has about 7,800 troops in Afghanistan, mostly in Helmand.

The province is a largely desert area cut in two by a river valley flanked by lush, fertile land that produces nearly half the world's opium.

(Reporting by John Joseph; Editing by Jon Boyle)