British soldier dies after Afghanistan blast

      A British soldier died on Tuesday following a blast while on a mission to clear hidden bombs from an alleyway in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence in London said.The soldier was hit on Monday in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province and airlifted to the military hospital in Britain's main Camp Bastion base.   The soldier, from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps, was then flown to a specialist military hospital in Birmingham, but died on Tuesday. The death brings to 364 the number of British troops killed since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001. Of these, at least 319 were killed through hostile action. The soldier is the 16th to die this year. "The soldier was neutralising a complex set of improvised explosive devices which had been sown in an alleyway between two compounds when one of the devices detonated," said Task Force Helmand spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Tim Purbrick. Next of kin have been informed. Britain has about 9,500 troops in Afghanistan, making it the second-largest contributor after the United States to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. They are based in central Helmand, battling Taliban insurgents and playing an increasing role in training local security forces.