London - A British soldier has been killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan, bringing to 20 the number of British forces killed in the country so far in July, London said Saturday.

Britain's defence ministry said the soldier was on patrol in Helmand province when he was killed in the explosion.

His death brought to 189 the total of British forces killed in action in Afghanistan so far and comes amid warnings by top military officials that the number of casualties might rise further in the weeks ahead amid the stepped-up NATO-led campaign against Taliban insurgents. (dpa)