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Helicopter 'crashes near Baghdad' Helicopter 'crashes near Baghdad'
(20 minutes later)
The US military says it is checking reports that a helicopter has gone down north of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.The US military says it is checking reports that a helicopter has gone down north of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
Police and witnesses reported seeing a helicopter come down near a US air base at Taji, shortly after dawn.Police and witnesses reported seeing a helicopter come down near a US air base at Taji, shortly after dawn.
Last month, 12 US soldiers died when a Black Hawk military helicopter crashed near Baghdad. If confirmed, it would be the fourth helicopter lost in two weeks.
US defence officials said it might have been shot down. Dozens of personnel have died in US helicopter crashes in Iraq since the invasion of March 2003. Last month, 12 US soldiers died when a Black Hawk military helicopter crashed near Baghdad. The helicopter is believed to have been shot down.
The US military has lost more than 50 military helicopters in Iraq since May 2003.
"I can confirm that we are looking into reports that a helicopter went down north of Baghdad," US military spokeswoman Lt Col Josslyn Aberle said."I can confirm that we are looking into reports that a helicopter went down north of Baghdad," US military spokeswoman Lt Col Josslyn Aberle said.
Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed Iraqi military source as saying his unit saw the helicopter go down near Taji, about 30km (20 miles) north of the capital.Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed Iraqi military source as saying his unit saw the helicopter go down near Taji, about 30km (20 miles) north of the capital.
"We don't know the reasons for the crash, nor its exact site because the US army has sealed off the area," the source said."We don't know the reasons for the crash, nor its exact site because the US army has sealed off the area," the source said.
Meanwhile authorities have declared a curfew in the Shia city of Najaf amid an upsurge of violence in the area.Meanwhile authorities have declared a curfew in the Shia city of Najaf amid an upsurge of violence in the area.
At least 58 people were killed and 150 injured in a double suicide bombing in nearby Hilla on Thursday. Seventy-three people were killed and 167 injured in a double suicide bombing in nearby Hilla on Thursday.
Also, some 263 members of a messianic cult were killed in clashes with US-backed Iraqi troops near Najaf earlier this week. Also, some 263 people were killed in clashes with US-backed Iraqi troops near Najaf earlier this week.