British troops were suspected yesterday to have shot dead an innocent motorbike rider mistaken for a suicide bomber.

British troops were suspected yesterday to have shot dead an innocent motorbike rider mistaken for a suicide bomber.

The man was shot and killed by international forces after approaching a convoy "at speed" in an area of Helmand Province mainly patrolled by the British Army.

A spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said he was fired on after failing to react to four warning shots.

Subsequent checks revealed he had no explosives, the spokesman added.

ISAF said in a statement the incident was "very regrettable".

The force added: "The loss of innocent lives is a tragedy and ISAF and coalition forces seek at all times to avoid civilian casualties.

"Our soldiers are trained to take appropriate steps to minimise civilian casualties whilst at the same time taking action to protect themselves when threatened."

Neither ISAF nor the Ministry of Defence has disclosed the nationality of the forces involved.

An MoD spokesman said an investigation would be carried out if British soldiers were involved.

There are currently 8100 British forces in Afghanistan, with the operational thrust in Helmand Province.

ISAF said it ran "frequent public service announcements and advertising campaigns aimed at keeping the local population informed about the need to follow the directions given by ISAF foot patrols".

The shooting happened on the same day as least nine Afghan soldiers were killed by US planes in a "friendly fire" incident. They were hit in the airstrike in the Sayedkhail district of the south-eastern province of Khost.