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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Helicopter 'crashes near Baghdad' | Helicopter 'crashes near Baghdad' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Unites States military in Iraq says it is checking reports that a helicopter has gone down north of the capital, Baghdad. | The Unites States military in Iraq says it is checking reports that a helicopter has gone down north of the 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. |
| If confirmed, it would be the fourth helicopter lost in two weeks. | If confirmed, it would be the fourth helicopter lost in two weeks. |
| Last month, 12 US soldiers died when a Black Hawk military helicopter crashed near Baghdad. The helicopter is believed to have been shot down. | 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. | 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. |
| Seperately the US military says it has killed 18 insurgents in the Sunni flashpoint town of Ramadi in western Iraq. | |
| It said US forces killed the insurgents over two days after troops there came under fire. | |
| Meanwhile Iraq authorities have declared a curfew in the Shia city of Najaf amid an upsurge of violence in the area. | |
| Seventy-three people were killed and 167 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 people 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. |