Five British soldiers shot dead in Afghanistan

British defense officials say five British soldiers have been shot dead by an Afghan police officer in Southern Helmand Province.  Officials say the incident occurred when the gunman fired on the troops without warning at a police checkpoint and then fled. 

A joint statement from NATO and the Afghan interior Ministry said six other British troops and two Afghan police were wounded in the incident.  

In London, British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, condemned the attack, calling the deaths a terrible loss.  Violence in Afghanistan has surged in the last year as Afghan government and foreign troops struggle to counter the Taliban insurgency.