Three British soldiers killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan are expected to be named.
The deaths brought the total UK death toll in the troubled country to 199.
The servicemen - two from 2nd Battalion The Rifles and the third from 40 Regiment Royal Artillery - were hit by an explosion while on a foot patrol near Sangin, in Helmand province, on Thursday.
All three soldiers were serving with the Rifles Battlegroup.
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said: "The loss of these brave men, and of all those who have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002, is a tragedy.
"It brings us very close to the sad milestone of 200 fatalities in this conflict.
"We cannot help but reflect on the toll the mission has taken on our people and their families and friends. But we must also keep in the forefront of our minds how important it is to the security of this country and its citizens.
"So many young men and women have been injured or have given their lives to ensure that Afghanistan does not fall back into the hands of the extremists and the terrorists who seek to threaten us and our interests. We must succeed. And we will."
Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "We will all feel the loss of these brave soldiers, but it is their family, friends and loved ones, as well as the men and women who served alongside them, who feel the greatest pain and we offer them our deepest and heartfelt condolences, thoughts and prayers."
News of the deaths was announced as another four UK soldiers killed in Helmand were returned to British soil. The bodies of Corporal Kevin Mulligan, 26, Lance Corporal Dale Hopkins, 23, Private Kyle Adams, 21, and Private Jason Williams, 23, were flown into RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire on Thursday morning.
