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| Helicopter 'shot down by Taleban' | Helicopter 'shot down by Taleban' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Nato says that one of its helicopters that crashed in the southern Afghan province of Helmand on Wednesday may have been shot down by the Taleban. | Nato says that one of its helicopters that crashed in the southern Afghan province of Helmand on Wednesday may have been shot down by the Taleban. |
| Seven military personnel died in the Chinook crash. Five US crew and a British soldier were among the dead. | Seven military personnel died in the Chinook crash. Five US crew and a British soldier were among the dead. |
| Hours after the crash, Nato-led troops killed dozens of Taleban militants nearby, Afghan defence officials said. | Hours after the crash, Nato-led troops killed dozens of Taleban militants nearby, Afghan defence officials said. |
| Elsewhere, at least 16 policemen were killed by the Taleban in southern Zabul province, the interior ministry said. | Elsewhere, at least 16 policemen were killed by the Taleban in southern Zabul province, the interior ministry said. |
| Fighting between Nato-led security forces and Taleban insurgents has escalated in recent weeks - particularly in the south. | Fighting between Nato-led security forces and Taleban insurgents has escalated in recent weeks - particularly in the south. |
| 'Enemy fire' | 'Enemy fire' |
| Nato is still investigating the cause of Wednesday's crash, but says it looks as if Taleban claims to have shot it down may well be correct. | Nato is still investigating the cause of Wednesday's crash, but says it looks as if Taleban claims to have shot it down may well be correct. |
| AFGHAN AIR CRASHES 5 May 2006-10 US soldiers die after their Chinook helicopter crashes east of Kabul24 April 2006- Five die when US anti-drugs plane crashes in southern Afghanistan11 November 2005 - Civilian cargo jet from Bagram crashes killing eight25 September 2005 - Five US soldiers die in Chinook crash in Zabul province16 August 2005 - 17 Spanish soldiers die when Cougar helicopter crashes near Herat28 June 2005 - 16 US soldiers die in Chinook crash in Kunar province6 April 2005 - 15 US soldiers and three civilian contractors die in helicopter crash in Ghazni province Fact file: Chinook | AFGHAN AIR CRASHES 5 May 2006-10 US soldiers die after their Chinook helicopter crashes east of Kabul24 April 2006- Five die when US anti-drugs plane crashes in southern Afghanistan11 November 2005 - Civilian cargo jet from Bagram crashes killing eight25 September 2005 - Five US soldiers die in Chinook crash in Zabul province16 August 2005 - 17 Spanish soldiers die when Cougar helicopter crashes near Herat28 June 2005 - 16 US soldiers die in Chinook crash in Kunar province6 April 2005 - 15 US soldiers and three civilian contractors die in helicopter crash in Ghazni province Fact file: Chinook |
| "It was a hostile area, where the helicopter went down," said Major John Thomas, a spokesman for Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf). | |
| "Initial indications are that enemy fire may have brought down the helicopter." | "Initial indications are that enemy fire may have brought down the helicopter." |
| The nationality of the seventh passenger is still unclear. | |
| The helicopter crashed at around 2100 (1630 GMT) in the Kajaki district of Helmand, Isaf said in a statement. | The helicopter crashed at around 2100 (1630 GMT) in the Kajaki district of Helmand, Isaf said in a statement. |
| A rescue patrol was ambushed by "enemy fighters" and forced to call for an air strike to access the crash site, Isaf said. | A rescue patrol was ambushed by "enemy fighters" and forced to call for an air strike to access the crash site, Isaf said. |
| Incidents of helicopters being shot down are relatively rare in the country, says the BBC's Alastair Leithead in Kabul. | Incidents of helicopters being shot down are relatively rare in the country, says the BBC's Alastair Leithead in Kabul. |
| About 30,000 alliance troops and another 10,000 US-led ones have been battling to boost the authority of President Hamid Karzai. | About 30,000 alliance troops and another 10,000 US-led ones have been battling to boost the authority of President Hamid Karzai. |