**Military chiefs have insisted British troops in Afghanistan are “undeterred” by the violence despite the UK military death toll passing 200.**Five British troops lost their lives over the weekend, bringing the total number of UK service personnel killed since the start of the campaign to 204.
Lt Col Nick Richardson said troops were still “very focused” on their mission.
A total of 13 UK personnel have died this month as troops try to shore up security ahead of elections this week.
Col Richardson, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said British service personnel were making progress.
“The soldiers are undeterred, they’re very focussed on what they’re doing here and they are very determined,” he said.
"Actually each fatality probably hardens their resolve and their determination to continue making progress.
“It’s slow but we’re making it day by day and we’re helping improve the day to day lives of the Afghan people and also prevent the export of terrorism to the streets of the UK and wider.”
Fatal blasts
He said the recent offensive against the Taliban - known as Operation Panther’s Claw - had also helped the Afghan people take up the chance to vote.
"Panther’s Claw has brought security to an area that potentially holds about 80,000 people.
"Very, very soon - a matter of two or three days after the fighting stopped there, we were able to facilitate the voter registration teams going in - the Afghan teams - to allow the locals to register to vote here on Thursday.
Full list of British fatalities](http://www.paklinks.com/2/low/uk_news/7799610.stm)
Town feels pain of troop deaths
“That was a success and a measure of progress in itself. Without our security being brought to that area, in concert with the Afghan national security forces, the locals in that area would not have been able to register to vote and subsequently to vote in the forthcoming elections.”
Three British soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers died following an explosion while on patrol near Sangin in Helmand province on Sunday morning.
It followed the death of another soldier from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, who died of his injuries at a hospital in Birmingham on Saturday.
On the same day a soldier from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers died after an explosion while on foot patrol in Sangin. The next of kin of all five have been informed.
The latest deaths follow those of three soldiers in roadside bombs while on foot patrol in Helmand on Thursday.
Two had been attempting to help a comrade who had been wounded by an earlier blast.
Rifleman Daniel Wild, 19, from Easington in County Durham, and Captain Mark Hale, both serving with the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, were carrying Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton, 23, of 40 Regiment Royal Artillery, from North Yorkshire, when they were hit by a second explosion.
‘Indomitable’
Gordon Brown has admitted that more than 30 deaths during July and August, as British troops went on the offensive to shore up security in time for Afghan elections this week, had made it “one of the most difficult summers yet”.
The prime minister said the whole country mourned the loss of its soldiers.
But he insisted they were engaged in a “vital” mission to protect Britain from terrorism and maintain a stable Afghanistan.
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth told the BBC it was essential to maintain government and public support for the mission.
He said although the spirit of British armed forces was “absolutely indomitable”, they also needed Britain’s patience.