Three British soldiers have been killed in Helmand Province in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said.

BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said all three were were shot dead by an Afghan soldier in what is believed to be a deliberate incident.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has apologised to the UK after the incident in the Nahr-e Saraj district.

An investigation is under way and no further details have been released - next of kin are being informed.

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ITK suggests that, as cigarette manufacturers - as perveyors of death - have to advertise that fact on their packets, the MoD should also make potential recruits more aware that death occurs on a daily basis.

Perhaps their new advertising slogan should be -

"Free Box - Free Flag" ! ???