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| Two die as UK helicopters crash | Two die as UK helicopters crash |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Two British helicopters have crashed in an apparent mid-air collision in Iraq, killing two military personnel and seriously injuring another. | Two British helicopters have crashed in an apparent mid-air collision in Iraq, killing two military personnel and seriously injuring another. |
| Defence Secretary Des Browne said initial reports suggested the crash north of Baghdad was an accident and not caused by an insurgent attack. | Defence Secretary Des Browne said initial reports suggested the crash north of Baghdad was an accident and not caused by an insurgent attack. |
| The Puma helicopters came down in the early hours in a rural area near Taji, site of a large US base. | The Puma helicopters came down in the early hours in a rural area near Taji, site of a large US base. |
| The BBC understands they were taking part in a special forces mission. | The BBC understands they were taking part in a special forces mission. |
| Initial reports indicate that the crash was an accident and was not a result of an attack by insurgents Defence Secretary Des Browne Puma helicopters | Initial reports indicate that the crash was an accident and was not a result of an attack by insurgents Defence Secretary Des Browne Puma helicopters |
| Puma helicopters - mainly used to transport troops and equipment - are normally flown by the RAF. | Puma helicopters - mainly used to transport troops and equipment - are normally flown by the RAF. |
| However a Ministry of Defence spokesman would not confirm which service or regiment the dead personnel belonged to. | However a Ministry of Defence spokesman would not confirm which service or regiment the dead personnel belonged to. |
| Earlier reports had incorrectly identified the crashed helicopters as American. | Earlier reports had incorrectly identified the crashed helicopters as American. |
| Investigation under way | Investigation under way |
| In a statement, Mr Browne said: "Now that next of kin have been informed, I can confirm that the two helicopters reported this morning as having crashed north of Baghdad earlier today were, in fact, both UK helicopters. | In a statement, Mr Browne said: "Now that next of kin have been informed, I can confirm that the two helicopters reported this morning as having crashed north of Baghdad earlier today were, in fact, both UK helicopters. |
| "Sadly, two personnel have died and one is very seriously injured. All of these were UK personnel. | "Sadly, two personnel have died and one is very seriously injured. All of these were UK personnel. |
| "Initial reports indicate that the crash was an accident and was not a result of an attack by insurgents. | "Initial reports indicate that the crash was an accident and was not a result of an attack by insurgents. |
| "An investigation is under way and I will not comment further on the details of the incident at this stage." | "An investigation is under way and I will not comment further on the details of the incident at this stage." |
| The two deaths bring the total number of British fatalities since the 2003 invasion of Iraq to 142. | The two deaths bring the total number of British fatalities since the 2003 invasion of Iraq to 142. |
| Meanwhile, British troops have been involved in more fighting with a Shia militia group in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. | |
| Five gunmen from the Mehdi army militia are thought to have been killed in an exchange of fire. | |
| It follows an incident on Friday night when British forces killed eight members of the militia as they were apparently laying mines in the same area where a British Warrior armoured vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb eleven days ago, killing four troops and their Iraqi interpreter. |