British soldier kills Afghan civilian after warning: official

LONDON (AFP) — A British soldier shot dead an Afghan civilian on a motorbike Monday who failed to stop as he approached a military patrol in southern Afghanistan, the defence ministry here said.

A spokesman said the man "failed to react to two verbal warnings and two warning shots" as he approached troops from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Helmand province.

After the man was shot, he was treated by medics at the scene but "unfortunately he did not survive", the spokesman said.

The incident took place at about 5:00 pm (1330 GMT) near Forward Operating Base Inkerman in the Upper Sangin Valley, described by the defence ministry as "one of the most dangerous and austere bases that UK troops occupy".

In July, British troops killed four civilians who failed to respond to warning shots as their car approached a checkpoint in the same district.