INSURGENTS AMBUSHED BRITISH SOLDIERS ON PATROL IN SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN, KILLING TWO AND LEAVING ANOTHER PRESUMED DEAD ON TUESDAY, A DAY AFTER NATO TOOK COMMAND OF THE INSURGENCY-WRACKED REGION, OFFICIALS SAID. A FOURTH SOLDIER WAS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED. FIRING ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADES AND HEAVY MACHINE GUNS, THE REBELS AMBUSHED TWO VEHICLES OF THE NATO-LED INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE IN THE NORTH OF VOLATILE HELMAND PROVINCE, WHERE NEARLY 4,000 BRITISH TROOPS ARE DEPLOYED. LT. COL. KEVIN STRATFORD WRIGHT, SPOKESMAN FOR THE BRITISH HELMAND TASK FORCE, SAID THE SERIOUSLY WOUNDED SOLDIER WAS EVACUATED TO A MILITARY HOSPITAL IN HELMAND. HE GAVE NO DETAILS ABOUT THE SOLDIER REPORTED MISSING AND PRESUMED DEAD, ACCORDING TO A REPORT OF REUTERS.
