Tributes paid to tragic soldiers

Tributes have been paid to three soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

Corporal Taniela Tolevu Rogoiruwai, 32, and Kingsman Ponipate Tagitaginimoce, 29, both from Fiji, were hailed by comrades for "excelling" in their roles after dying in separate incidents in Nad-e Ali on Tuesday.

The pair were named after Marine Steven Birdsall was described as "selfless, brave and fearless" following the 20-year-old's death in hospital in Britain.

The two Fijians were shot dead in separate incidents while serving with 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. Kingsman Tagitaginimoce had been rushing to help one of his comrades when he was gunned down.

Cpl Rogoiruwai, a Sunderland-supporting father of one known as "Rocco", "possessed loyalty in spades and he had an absolute dedication", the Ministry of Defence said.

His relatives said: "Dan was such a loving husband who dedicated his life to his work and especially his family.

"He will be sorely missed by his friends, workmates and especially by his wife and three-year-old son, Matthew.

"You will always be remembered in our hearts, daddy."

They were named after tributes were paid to Mne Birdsall, of 40 Commando Royal Marines, who had been shot by insurgents in Sangin in Helmand province on Sunday.

He was flown back to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham but died from his wounds on Monday afternoon.