London - Two British servicemen have been killed in a blast in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, bringing to 141 the number of British soldiers killed in the conflict.

The Ministry of Defence said Thursday that the two male soldiers were killed late Wednesday during an "operation against enemy forces" - meaning the Taliban - in central Helmand province.

British fatalities in the Afghan conflict, which started in 2001, have risen sharply over the past year. (dpa)