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UK helicopters 'collide' in Iraq Car bombs strike Baghdad market
(30 minutes later)
Two UK helicopters have crashed after an apparent mid-air collision north of Baghdad, killing two crew members and wounding five, the UK has said. At least 24 people have been killed in a series of bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, police said.
At least two car bombs and a mortar in quick succession killed 18 people and injured dozens more at a busy market in a southern mainly Shia district.
Hours later a suicide bomber blew himself up in a minibus in northern Baghdad killing at least six people.
Meanwhile two UK helicopters crashed after an apparent mid-air collision north of Baghdad, killing two crew.
The helicopters came down in the early morning near a US base south-west of Taji. Early reports said the helicopters and troops were American.The helicopters came down in the early morning near a US base south-west of Taji. Early reports said the helicopters and troops were American.
An investigation was under way but the crash did not appear to be the result of "enemy fire", the US said earlier. Rescue chaos
Two car bombs and a mortar exploded in Baghdad killing at least 15 people. In Baghdad, the first attacks took place in the south-western Al-Shurta al-Arabaa district.
Another 50 people were injured in the attacks, which came in quick succession in a market in the southern mainly Shia Al-Shurta al-Arabaa district, police said. Women and children were among the casualties. About 50 people were injured in the attacks. Women and children were among the casualties.
The second bomb hit as rescuers were trying to cope with the aftermath of the first and get people to hospital. The second bomb and mortar hit as rescuers were trying to cope with the aftermath of the first and get people to hospital.
Reports are coming in of a third bomb, but there are no indications yet about casualties. There were also unconfirmed reports of a third bomb in the area.
The attacks came a day after a suicide attack on a crowded market in the Shia holy city of Karbala, which is now known to have killed 42 people, and a truck bomb attack on a bridge in southern Baghdad.The attacks came a day after a suicide attack on a crowded market in the Shia holy city of Karbala, which is now known to have killed 42 people, and a truck bomb attack on a bridge in southern Baghdad.
Car and suicide bombs have occurred almost daily in Baghdad in recent months, despite a US-led security crackdown which began in February.Car and suicide bombs have occurred almost daily in Baghdad in recent months, despite a US-led security crackdown which began in February.
The security surge does, however, appear to have reduced sectarian killings in the city.The security surge does, however, appear to have reduced sectarian killings in the city.
Cause for concern
No details have been released about the types of helicopter involved in Sunday's apparent collision.
The US has lost more than 50 helicopters in Iraq since the 2003 invasion with the loss of a number of soldiers.
At least 11 were downed in the first two months of this year, most as a result of enemy fire.
The BBC's Jonathan Charles in Baghdad says helicopters are crucial to coalition operations in this part of Iraq, and the losses have been a cause for concern for the military.