Gunman in Afghan army uniform kills 2 British troops in southern Afghanistan

Allied troops in Afghanistan have suffered another so-called insider attack, with a gunman wearing an Afghan army uniform killing two British troops in southern Afghanistan on Monday.

"The gunman was shot and killed," the Associated Press quoted NATO spokesman Maj. Jason Waggoner as saying, adding that he declined to provide further details.

British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond has confirmed that the soldiers were British, BBC reported.

Reuters, citing an Afghan security source, reported that the incident took place in Lashkar Gah in the southern Helmand province.

The Lashkar Gah base is dominated by British forces and a NATO official told the AP that the two victims were British soldiers.

The attacks by gunmen masquerading in NATO-issue uniform, have increased after a series of incidents involving foreign troops, Reuters added, noting the burning of Qurans at a NATO base and the killing of 16 villagers in southern Kandahar allegedly by a US soldier.

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Army uniforms are readily available in Afghan markets, according to the Irish Examiner.

Before the attack Monday, 13 members of the NATO-led force had been killed this year, Reuters reported, citing an address by General John Allen to a US senate committee last week.

The shootings raise new concern about the reliability of Afghan forces and their ability to take over security responsibilities by the end of 2014, when most Western combat forces leave.

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