2 British soldiers killed Afghanistan

Two British soldiers were killed in a Taliban attack Saturday in southern Afghanistan and a number of other troops were wounded, Britain's Ministry of Defense said.

Two of the wounded soldiers were in serious condition, the ministry said in a statement.

The soldiers were part of an operation to disrupt Taliban activity south of Garmsir in Helmand province, when their patrol was attacked, the ministry said.

"Sadly the two soldiers were killed during the subsequent heavy fire-fight to repel the enemy and a number of Taliban were also killed," the statement said.

British troops have been engaged in fierce, and increasingly bloody, fighting against the resurgent Taliban in Helmand for the past few months.

The ministry said 78 British personnel have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001.