Meridian Afghanistan

Video. The latest stage in Britain's military withdrawal from Afghanistan continues, as Defence Secretary Philip Hammond watched armoured vehicles return to a base in Hampshire today.

He was at the Marchwood Military Port on Southampton Water where almost 100 vehicles were unloaded from a roll-on roll-off cargo ship. Richard Jones reports.

Questions are being asked whether a soldier who stole a riffle and ammunition really did witness horrors in Afghanistan.

Corporal Harry Killick, 36, claims to have witnessed a comrades death and had to collect DNA from insurgents body parts in Helmand, triggering post-traumatic stress disorder.

He has claimed that he was suffering from the disorder at the time of the offence.

But Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Minton, the commanding officer of Killick's regiment, said in a statement that although he would have been aware of a fatal incident, he did not witness it.

He said that Killick was not responsible for collecting the DNA from body parts of insurgents and he did not under go trauma risk management because he didn't warrant it.

Lt Col Minton added, "The only issue that Cpl Killick had was to do with the tour having finished and returning to civilian life."

Video. A soldier who who admitted stealing a rifle and ammunition from a barracks, in what his family say was a suicide bid, is being sentenced at Lewes Crown Court.

The family of Corporal Harry Killick say he was suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after a tour of duty in Afghanistan. From court, Malcolm Shaw sends this report.

An inquest into the death of a soldier, whose family live in Kent, is due to take place today. Lance Corporal James Ashworth, who was 23, died while protecting the lives of his comrades in Afghanistan last year. In May, he was honoured with the Victoria Cross.

The Kent war artist, Graeme Lothian, has been shot and wounded by a Taliban sniper in Afghanistan. Graeme, from Sevenoaks, is a popular figure with the troops and has produced stunning work, illustrating the dangers faced by soldiers.

We spoke to Graeme's close friend, Dave Higgins, who said he was 'stunned', and anxiously seeking news about Graeme's condition.

A teenager, who fled Afghanistan when his father and brother were killed, has lost his appeal to be allowed to stay in this country. John Ryall reports.

A teenager temporarily saved from being sent back to Afghanistan has lost his appeal to be allowed to stay in the country. 19-year-old Najib Hashimi, who lives in Faversham in Kent, fled the country five years ago after his father and brother were killed.

Servicemen and women from Fourth Battalion the Rifles in Wiltshire, said goodbye to their loved ones just two weeks ago, and deployed to Afghanistan for a six month tour.

British forces are scheduled to withdraw next year, so the troops focus is now on supporting and training the Afghans. Sally Lockwood reports.

A new exhibition of work by a female war artist has just opened with pride of place given to a painting which honours a soldier from Brighton who died in Afghanistan.

Called "I am Strong', the painting was inspired by words from the last letter written by Corporal Sean Reeve. Richard Jones reports.