London, June 05, 2010, SPA -- Britain's military says two soldiers have been killed in a gun battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defense said Saturday that the two personnel died on Friday afternoon during a fire-fight in the Nahr-e Saraj area of the southern Helmand province. Both men were from the 1st Battalion the Mercian Regiment, and attached to the Royal Gurkha Rifles Battle Group. Their next of kin have been informed, according to a report of the Associated Press. Lt. Col. James Carr-Smith, a military spokesman, said the soldiers were killed by small arms fire. A total of 292 British troops have died since the mission in Afghanistan began in 2001. --SPA 14:10 LOCAL TIME 11:10 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/789012