4 May 2012 Last updated at 14:26 ET

Two British soldiers killed in southern Afghanistan

412 British soldiers have died in Afghanistan since the conflict began in 2001

Two British soldiers, from the Royal Logistic Corps, have died in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

The soldiers, who were attached to 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh Battlegroup, were killed in an enemy mortar rocket attack on their base in the Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand province.

Their families have been informed.

The number of service personnel killed in operations in Afghanistan since October 2001 now stands at 412.

The soldiers were serving as part of Combined Force Burma, and died in an "indirect fire attack" on Forward Operating Base Ouellette.

Major Ian Lawrence, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "The thoughts and condolences of everyone serving in the Combined Force are with their families and friends."

The soldiers' next-of-kin have asked for a period of grace, before further details are released.