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| UN crew killed as helicopter shot down in South Sudan | UN crew killed as helicopter shot down in South Sudan |
| (4 months later) | |
| South Sudan's armed forces shot down a UN helicopter on Friday, killing all four crew on board. UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey said the helicopter from the UN mission in South Sudan was on a reconnaissance mission when it was hit. | South Sudan's armed forces shot down a UN helicopter on Friday, killing all four crew on board. UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey said the helicopter from the UN mission in South Sudan was on a reconnaissance mission when it was hit. |
| "Initial reports indicated the UN helicopter crashed and burned. The mission immediately launched a search and recovery mission. It has confirmed the death of all four crew members," Del Buey said. | "Initial reports indicated the UN helicopter crashed and burned. The mission immediately launched a search and recovery mission. It has confirmed the death of all four crew members," Del Buey said. |
| "In subsequent communications between the mission and the South Sudanese armed forces, the SPLA [South Sudan's army] told the mission that it has shot down the helicopter in the Likuangole area in Jonglei state," he said. The mission is investigating, he added. | "In subsequent communications between the mission and the South Sudanese armed forces, the SPLA [South Sudan's army] told the mission that it has shot down the helicopter in the Likuangole area in Jonglei state," he said. The mission is investigating, he added. |
| But South Sudan's army denied the UN accusation, saying rebels – not government forces – had brought down the aircraft, a Russian-built Mi-8 helicopter. | But South Sudan's army denied the UN accusation, saying rebels – not government forces – had brought down the aircraft, a Russian-built Mi-8 helicopter. |
| "The SPLA did not shoot down the helicopter. Rebels of Yau Yau shot it down," army spokesman Kella Kueth said, referring to rebels led by David Yau Yau who are fighting the army in Jonglei state. | "The SPLA did not shoot down the helicopter. Rebels of Yau Yau shot it down," army spokesman Kella Kueth said, referring to rebels led by David Yau Yau who are fighting the army in Jonglei state. |
| Russian news agency Itar-tass quoted a source at the Russian embassy in South Sudan as saying on Friday: "According to preliminary data, a Mi-8 helicopter owned by Nizhnevartovskavia company working under a UN contract was downed today in the afternoon." | Russian news agency Itar-tass quoted a source at the Russian embassy in South Sudan as saying on Friday: "According to preliminary data, a Mi-8 helicopter owned by Nizhnevartovskavia company working under a UN contract was downed today in the afternoon." |
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