LONDON - Two British marines have been killed in a roadside bombing in southern Afghanistan.

The Defense Ministry says the servicemen, from 42 Commando Royal Marines, died Friday when an improvised explosive device went off while they were on patrol in Helmand province.

The ministry said in a statement Saturday the marines were working in the Loy Mandeh area of Nad-e-Ali district when the bomb exploded. It did not give the marines' names, but said their next of kin have been informed.

The deaths take to 368 the number of UK military personnel killed since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001.