LONDON, Jan 30 (Reuters) - A British soldier was killed during fighting in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said on Friday.

The soldier was on a joint patrol with Afghan troops in Helmand province.

A total of 143 British personnel have died since the U.S.-led invasion to oust the Taliban started in late 2001. Britain has around 8,000 troops in Afghanistan, mostly deployed in Helmand.

(Reporting by Matt Falloon)

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