Bodies returned from Afghanistan

Jan 5 2010

The bodies of two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan have returned to the UK as a controversial Islamic group pressed ahead with plans for a march through the town which honours fallen troops.

The Union flag-draped coffins carrying the bodies of Rifleman Aiden Howell and Sapper David Watson arrived at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire on Tuesday morning.

Sapper Watson, 23, of 33 Engineer Regiment - a bomb disposal expert - and Rifleman Howell, 19, of 3rd Battalion the Rifles, were killed in Afghanistan in the last week of December.

A private ceremony for their families is taking place at the base before the cortege passes through the nearby town of Wootton Bassett, where hundreds of people line the streets to pay their respects.

The repatriation comes as Islam4UK said it would apply to Wiltshire Police "in the next few days" to march through the town famous for honouring dead British troops, despite calls for it to be called off.

Anjem Choudary, leader of Islam4UK, said on Monday night that it was "full steam ahead" for the march, campaigning for the withdrawal of British troops.

A date for the event - to feature 500 people carrying symbolic coffins - has not been set, but it will not coincide with a repatriation, Mr Choudary said.