LONDON, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- British Defense Ministry said on Monday a British soldier was killed in southern Afghanistan.

　　The soldier from 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, attached to 1st Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment, was killed in an explosion during a joint patrolling with Afghan National Army in Helmand Province, said the ministry.

　　"During that time an improvised explosive device was detonated which resulted in the death of one British soldier and shrapnel and blast injuries to one other ISAF soldier, an Afghan National Army soldier and the patrol interpreter." said the ministry.

　　The death brings the number of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan since November 2001 to 116. And currently, Britain has over 7,800 soldiers based in Afghanistan.

　　Britain announced it would send some 230 troops to Afghanistan by spring 2009 last month when U.S. President George W. Bush paid his final visit to London before leaving office in January next year.