Two British soldiers killed by homemade bomb whole on patrol in southern Afghanistan

Two British soldiers were killed by a homemade bomb while on patrol in southern Afghanistan, defense officials in London said Saturday.

The Royal Marines, from 42 Commando, were on an operation on Friday with Afghan forces to clear parts of Nad-e Ali district in Helmand province when they were hit by the blast, the defense ministry said in a statement.

"It is my sad duty to inform you of the death of two Royal Marines from 42 Commando Royal Marines in the Loy Mandeh area of the Nad-e Ali District of Helmand Province," said British military spokesman Major Rolf Kurth. "The two Royal Marines were on patrol, disrupting insurgent activity when they were killed by an explosion caused by an IED (improvised explosive device)."

The deaths bring to 368 the number of British troops killed since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001.