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| US suffers heavy losses in Iraq | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US forces in Iraq have suffered some of their heaviest casualties in recent months, with 18 personnel killed. | |
| In the worst incident, a US military helicopter crashed north-east of Baghdad killing all 13 people on board. | |
| A website linked to the former ruling Baath party said an Islamic group shot down the aircraft, but there is no independent verification. | |
| In a separate incident, the US military said five of its soldiers were killed in a clash with militants in Karbala. | |
| The clash occurred at the provincial government headquarters in the Shia holy city, 110 km (70 miles) south of Baghdad. | |
| It happened as thousands of pilgrims gathered in Karbala for the Shia mourning ceremony of Ashura, due to begin on Sunday. | |
| Claim | |
| The latest crash comes weeks after a US military helicopter crashed in western Anbar province, killing four troops. | The latest crash comes weeks after a US military helicopter crashed in western Anbar province, killing four troops. |
| A military statement said: "A US forces helicopter went down north-east of Baghdad this afternoon. Emergency Coalition Forces responded and secured the scene," Reuters news agency reported. | A military statement said: "A US forces helicopter went down north-east of Baghdad this afternoon. Emergency Coalition Forces responded and secured the scene," Reuters news agency reported. |
| "Thirteen passengers and crew members were aboard the aircraft and all were killed," it said. | "Thirteen passengers and crew members were aboard the aircraft and all were killed," it said. |
| AFP news agency quoted Lt Col Josslyn L Aberle as saying there were nine passengers and four crew on board. | AFP news agency quoted Lt Col Josslyn L Aberle as saying there were nine passengers and four crew on board. |
| The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Baghdad says a short while before the announcement, Medivac helicopters had been seen flying out of the city. | The BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Baghdad says a short while before the announcement, Medivac helicopters had been seen flying out of the city. |
| A Baathist website says a group calling itself Jaish al-Mujahideen [the Mujahideen army] says it shot down the helicopter. | A Baathist website says a group calling itself Jaish al-Mujahideen [the Mujahideen army] says it shot down the helicopter. |
| Our correspondent says groups have often made such claims in similar situations in the past. | |
| There have been previous US military helicopter crashes in Iraq but rarely causing casualties on a scale like this, our correspondent adds. | There have been previous US military helicopter crashes in Iraq but rarely causing casualties on a scale like this, our correspondent adds. |
| In 2005, 31 US troops died in a helicopter crash in bad weather near the Jordanian border, and in November 2003 two Black Hawks collided under fire over Mosul, killing 17 service personnel. | In 2005, 31 US troops died in a helicopter crash in bad weather near the Jordanian border, and in November 2003 two Black Hawks collided under fire over Mosul, killing 17 service personnel. |