LONDON, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- A British soldier was killed and three injured in a gun battle with Taliban forces in southern Afghanistan, a spokesman for Britain's Defense Ministry announced on Sunday.

    The soldier, who has not been named, was killed in the volatile Helmand province at about noon local time on Sunday, said the spokesman. The family of the soldier was in the process of being informed of the death, he said.

    "The soldier died as a result of injuries sustained during the contact. Three other British soldiers received minor injuries," he said.

    Twenty UK armed forces personnel have died in Afghanistan since2001. Currently, Britain has around 4,500 soldiers in Afghanistan, with 3,300 stationed in Helmand province.

    Afghanistan is going through its bloodiest period since the fall of the Taliban five years ago. Much of the fighting has been concentrated in the south.

    About 70 Taliban fighters have been killed in clashes with NATO-led troops and Afghan security forces there in a current fighting, according to local officials. Enditem