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US helicopter downed near Kabul US helicopter downed near Kabul
(about 5 hours later)
An American Blackhawk helicopter has been shot down in Afghanistan in a province bordering the capital, Kabul.An American Blackhawk helicopter has been shot down in Afghanistan in a province bordering the capital, Kabul.
The aircraft was brought down by a rocket-propelled grenade, a military spokesman said.The aircraft was brought down by a rocket-propelled grenade, a military spokesman said.
The pilot managed to land the craft and get the crew and passengers to safety before it caught fire, he said.The pilot managed to land the craft and get the crew and passengers to safety before it caught fire, he said.
A number of helicopters have been shot down in Afghanistan. Seven troops died last summer when an American Chinook was shot down in Helmand province. Meanwhile, the governor of Nimroz province in the south-west of the country has survived a suicide attack, which killed four other people.
Governor Ghulam Dastageer Azad said the attack took place on a convoy of vehicles he was travelling in.
'Burned out''Burned out'
The Blackhawk was taking part in operations under the US-led coalition when it was hit by what a spokesman called "small arms fire".The Blackhawk was taking part in operations under the US-led coalition when it was hit by what a spokesman called "small arms fire".
He described how the pilot was able to crash-land the helicopter and to get all the passengers and crew off the aircraft before it caught fire.He described how the pilot was able to crash-land the helicopter and to get all the passengers and crew off the aircraft before it caught fire.
There were no reports of any serious injuries.There were no reports of any serious injuries.
The Blackhawk was flying quite close to the ground when it was hit in Logar province which borders Kabul - just a short distance from the Afghan capital in an area described by a local MP as a Taleban stronghold.The Blackhawk was flying quite close to the ground when it was hit in Logar province which borders Kabul - just a short distance from the Afghan capital in an area described by a local MP as a Taleban stronghold.
The Blackhawk was burned out in the crash and the coalition said the remains were completely destroyed by a precision strike.The Blackhawk was burned out in the crash and the coalition said the remains were completely destroyed by a precision strike.
There have been a number of problems with coalition and Nato helicopters over the last month. The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Kabul says there have been a number of problems with coalition and Nato helicopters over the last month.
A few days ago another Blackhawk crash-landed and rolled over in a dust cloud, a Chinook crashed in Kunar province after suffering engine failure and a small scout helicopter crashed in Kandahar a few weeks ago.A few days ago another Blackhawk crash-landed and rolled over in a dust cloud, a Chinook crashed in Kunar province after suffering engine failure and a small scout helicopter crashed in Kandahar a few weeks ago.
A Nato spokesman said it had been a particularly busy month and there are now more troops and aircraft in the country.A Nato spokesman said it had been a particularly busy month and there are now more troops and aircraft in the country.
June was the bloodiest month for international forces since the campaign here against the Taleban began at the end of 2001. June was the bloodiest month for international forces since the campaign against the Taleban began at the end of 2001.
A number of helicopters have been shot down in Afghanistan. Seven troops died last summer when an American Chinook was shot down in Helmand province.