Britain's Afghanistan deaths equal Falklands

British soldiers died in a bombing in southern Afghanistan, officials announced today, raising Britain's death toll in the conflict to 255 - the number of Britons lost in the Falklands war of 1982.

Britain reached the grim milestone as British, American and Afghan forces are preparing for a major attack on Marjah in Helmand province, the biggest town in southern Afghanistan under Taliban control. Britain's defence secretary has warned the British public to expect more casualties when the Marjah attack occurs.

U.S. officials have said for weeks that they plan to attack Marjah, a centre of the Taliban's logistical and opium smuggling network about 610km southwest of Kabul. But the precise date of the attack has been kept secret.

Two soldiers from the Royal Scots Borderers were killed on Sunday in an explosion near the Helmand district of Sangin, which is located north of Marjah, the Ministry of Defense said.

Britain's losses in the Falklands occurred during a 73-day war to drive Argentine forces from the South Atlantic colony they had invaded to affirm their own claim to the islands, which they call the Malvinas.

In London, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth warned that British casualties were a "very real risk" during the upcoming operation around Marjah, which has a population estimated at about 80,000.

"We have seen an intense, hard and bloody period in Afghanistan but ... it is imperative that we hold our resolve," Ainsworth said after the deaths were announced.

US officials telegraphed their plans for Marjah in hopes that most of the estimated 400 to 1,000 Taliban fighters would leave the area, allowing NATO to re-establish Afghan government control there. The top US commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, has said repeatedly that success in Afghanistan does not depend on killing Taliban fighters but protecting Afghan civilians and winning their support.

But Afghan and US officials say there is little evidence that significant numbers of Taliban fighters or civilians have fled Marjah.

"The criminals, the drug dealers, they're out of there," said Lt. Col. Brian Christmas, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines. "But the die-hards, they're readying for a fight."

He said intelligence reports indicate weapons and ammunition are continuing to come into Marjah, although U.S. troops have taken up position near the town. The Marines' main forward position, Outpost Belleau Wood, lies about 10km north of Marjah from which U.S. 155-mm cannon have been firing flares toward the town at night.

Last weekend, McChrystal defended the decision to advertise the Marjah attack, saying the element of surprise was not as important as letting the town's residents know that an Afghan government was on the way to replace Taliban rulers and drug traffickers.