Afghan Government Welcomes British Soldiers' Arrest

British Prime Minister David Cameron meets British soldiers based in Helmand Province earlier this year.

The Afghan government has welcomed the arrest of seven British soldiers on suspicion of murder, calling it "a good measure to prevent civilian casualties" in the country.

The comment by Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammad Zaher Azimi comes after Britain's Ministry of Defense announced that seven Royal Marines had been arrested on October 11 on suspicion of murder in relation to an incident in Afghanistan last year.

The ministry said the incident did not involve any civilians but followed "an engagement with an insurgent."

It also said the arrest didn't take place in Afghanistan.

Britain has 9,500 troops in Afghanistan -- the second largest foreign force after the United States -- based in the southern province of Helmand.

Based on reporting by AP Reuters, and dpa