An Afghan policeman has shot dead five British soldiers at a checkpoint in southern Afghanistan. The gunman opened fire at a military compound in Helmand province, a day after Afghan election officials cancelled a presidential run-off vote and gave President Hamid Karzai a second term in office.

The compound where the incident took place is also used as a training centre for police. British soldiers returned fire, but the policeman escaped and is still at large. An investigation into the shooting is under way. The motives of the rogue policeman are unknown, but local tribesmen said the man had connections with the Taliban. It is also reported that the policeman had an ongoing conflict with his superior.