Hammond: These soldiers died protecting our national security

Defence secretary Philip Hammond condemns those involved in the deaths of the six British servicemen in Afghanistan yesterday:

"This tragic incident brings home to us the dangers that are faced on a daily basis by the men and women of our Armed Forces deployed in Afghanistan.

"We should never forget those who have lost their lives in Afghanistan to protect our national security.

"It is because of the continuing efforts of our Armed Forces, working alongside the Afghan National Security Forces, that we are on course to build an Afghanistan that can stand on its own two feet when UK combat operations cease at the end of 2014 and never again becomes a haven for international terrorism."