Last Updated: Saturday, 2 September 2006, 19:05 GMT 20:05 UK

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14 Britons killed in Afghanistan

The plane was a Nimrod MR2
Fourteen British service personnel have died after their aircraft crashed in Afghanistan, the MoD has said.
Twelve RAF personnel, a Royal Marine and an Army soldier were on board the RAF Nimrod MR2 which came down in the southern province of Kandahar.

The reconnaissance jet belonged to the Nato-led force battling the Taleban.

Officials said it appeared to be an accident. Tony Blair said it would "distress the whole country" but said the mission in Afghanistan was "vital".

It's a black day. It's a disaster for our soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan

Major Charles Heyman


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UK Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "This is dreadful and shocking news. I know that the people of Britain will join me in sending our deep condolences to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives.

"I can say, however, at this stage all the indications are that this was a terrible accident and not the result of hostile action."

'Technical fault'

The pilot is believed to have radioed ground staff about a technical fault shortly before the aircraft came down.

Nato forces say the was supporting the Nato mission in the area.


The defence analyst, Major Charles Heyman, told BBC News 24: "It's a black day. It's a disaster for our soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan.

"No other words can describe it. It's a big hit to morale. Believe me it really does affect morale."

BBC defence correspondent, Paul Wood, told BBC News 24, said the plane could have been supporting an operation in a place called Panjwayi - west of Kandahar.

"It's a town - which has been in Taleban hands - which has been forced back into coalition hands by a big push, still continuing today."

The crash brings the death toll of UK forces personnel in Afghanistan to 36 since the start of operations in November 2001.

Conservative Party leader David Cameron, who said he was "deeply shocked and saddened" by the accident, has sent his condolences to the friends and families of those killed.

"Today's tragic loss is a reminder of the extraordinarily difficult conditions in which our armed forces are operating in Afghanistan," he said.

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The crash is thought to be the biggest single loss of British troops in Iraq or Afghanistan since military operations began there in 2001.

Ten British armed personnel were killed when a Hercules C130K crashed north-west of Baghdad in January 2005.

The latest crash comes as Afghan and Nato troops began a major anti-Taleban drive in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar which has seen months of fighting.

AFGHAN AIR CRASHES
31 August 2006 - Dutch F-16 fighter pilot dies in crash in south of country
27 July 2006 - 16 people of multiple nationalities die in helicopter crash in south east
6 May 2006 - 10 US soldiers die in helicopter crash in Kunar province
24 April 2006- Five die when US anti-drugs plane crashes in southern Afghanistan
11 November 2005 - Civilian cargo jet from Bagram crashes killing eight
25 September 2005 - Five US soldiers die in Chinook crash in Zabul province
16 August 2005 - 17 Spanish soldiers die when Cougar helicopter crashes near Herat
28 June 2005 - 16 US soldiers die in Chinook crash in Kunar province
6 April 2005 - 15 US soldiers and three civilian contractors die in helicopter crash in Ghazni province
Earlier, Nato said its forces had launched a major offensive against known hideouts of Taleban insurgents in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar, with the aim of driving them out of the area.

There was no indication of an enemy attack on the plane, which was not a fighter jet, Maj Scott Lundy said.

Afghanistan is experiencing its bloodiest period since the fall of the Taleban in 2001. Much of the fighting has been concentrated in the south.

The plane came down about 20 km (12 miles) west of the city of Kandahar, Maj Lundy of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said.

It was "supporting a Nato mission. It went off the radar and crashed in an open area in Kandahar".


Nato forces are at the scene but there is no word on how many people were on board. A large Canadian contingent is based in Kandahar province.

A local tribal elder told the Associated Press news agency by phone that the wreckage of the plane was burning in an open field.

"I can see three or four helicopters in the sky, and coalition forces are also arriving in the area," he said.

On Thursday, a Dutch F-16 fighter pilot was killed after his plane crashed in the southern province of Ghazni.

Officials said the crash was believed to be an accident.

Well offcourse there will be some excuse that the talibs didnt take it down

The question would be, who is the enemy of the Afghan people? The so-called "mujahadeen"?, who have terrorized the Afghan people for many years now, or the NATO forces trying to bring peace and stability to a land that hasn't had either for quite some time?

keltoi? you need to get your facts right...why would america concern itself with afghanistan when its got its own problems to solve? anyone who thinks its just pure 'niceness' needs to look a little deeper (unless they are taking the old English meaning of 'niceness' )

Originally Posted by Marya

why would america concern itself with afghanistan when its got its own problems to solve?

For the same reason it concerned itself with Kosovo when it had its own problems to solve, perhaps?

One QUESTION. True or not, Afghanistan was a much much much safer place three years ago than it is now So would these be the same people that brought peace to Iraq.

Originally Posted by Keltoi

The question would be, who is the enemy of the Afghan people? The so-called "mujahadeen"?, who have terrorized the Afghan people for many years now, or the NATO forces trying to bring peace and stability to a land that hasn't had either for quite some time?

urrrrrkkkKKK

sorry that was a gagging sound as i was trying to keep vomit down.

check your facts, the people who terrorised afghanistan where warlords who had previously fought the soviets yes, but then turned on each other and the afghan people.

now who do you think the US / UK got to do most of their fighting?
that is right, the same warlords from the northern alliance who freely admit to allowing their troops to rape and kill people if they didnt cooperate totally.

the same people whose barbarity led to the rise of the taliban.

the taliban are religious students and former religious students who have come to take the people out of this misery and the west just cannot let an islamic state come about and would rather put these warlords back in positions of power where they can murder, torture, rob and rape the people rather than have those taliban in charge.

Daw'ud

Well said brother Dawud. Some people just like to turm a blind eye as to what really went on in the past and what goes on now. Its a shame how the people who the Taliban were protecting the Afghani people from are free and now running the country. The very same people that would rape women and children, grow opium on scales unimaginable. These are the verysame people who would turn their success of beating the soviet power into a show of power hungary opression.

It's a shame!

Originally Posted by Keltoi

The question would be, who is the enemy of the Afghan people? The so-called "mujahadeen"?, who have terrorized the Afghan people for many years now, or the NATO forces trying to bring peace and stability to a land that hasn't had either for quite some time?

Who are you? Have you even Been to Afghanistan to talk about terrorization of the afghan people? They were welcomed and loved by the afghan people the taliban, all you keep hearing is propraganda. There is no evidence of what you think, the only evidence you would bring is the evidence of some afghans who want to live a fashionable life . To Afghans Islam is most important. Dont start talking about how the shiites feel because the war in afghanistan currently is the same how it was when the soviets invaded. The taliban even offered the us government bin laden 3 times after 9/11 and asked for evidence. but mr. Bush said no dont go around calling groups terrorizing people when you dont have your facts straight. And i had lived in afghanistan for over 5 years to know what the life is.

why would america concern itself with afghanistan when its got its own problems to solve?

Because they harbored the people responsible for 9/11.

Originally Posted by therebbe

Because they harbored the people responsible for 9/11.

You sure you got that right! The Americains wanted OBL and all the Taliban asked for was proof and insted America thought why give proof just go and bomb them.

The war took place so soon after 9/11 the Americian Goverment looked at no other means like Israel its too a terroist state and it was clear that this was no war about terroism.

God grant them peace...