LONDON - THREE young men have been charged with murdering a teenager who was stabbed to death in London last week, police said on Saturday.

Freddy Moody, 18, was found suffering a wound to his abdomen following reports of a fight in Guildford Road, south Lambeth, last Thursday.

He was later pronounced dead in hospital, becoming the 21st teenager to be killed violently in the capital this year.

Detectives said they had charged Jeffrey Adu-Sarfo, 18, Shane Isaacs, 21 and a 17-year-old youth with murder.

They are due to appear at Camberwell Magistrates Court later on Saturday.

Knife crime has become a top political issue following a spate of violent deaths, mostly stabbings, on the streets of London so far this year.

Official figures released last week revealed there were more than 22,000 serious offences in England and Wales involving knives in 2007-8, although crime fell significantly overall. -- REUTERS