British death toll in Afghanistan reaches 300

A British marine wounded in the Helmand province has died - the 300th British fatality of the nine-year campaign.

LONDON // A British marine wounded in Afghanistan has died - the 300th British fatality of the nine-year campaign. The Ministry of Defence says the member of 40 Commando Royal Marines was hurt in a June 12 explosion in Helmand province. He died Sunday in a hospital in England. The ministry said today that the marine's family had been informed. Britain has about 10,000 troops in Afghanistan, the largest international force after the United States. Opposition to the conflict has grown as casualties have risen. Most of British deaths have occurred since 2006, when troops were sent to Helmand, a centre of Taliban insurgency. The defence secretary Liam Fox paid tribute to the dead marine and said "our resolve and determination to see the mission through remains steadfast." * AP