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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| 14 Britons killed in Afghanistan | 14 Britons killed in Afghanistan |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Fourteen British service personnel have died after their aircraft crashed in Afghanistan, the MoD has said. | |
| Twelve RAF personnel, a Royal Marine and an Army soldier were among those who died in the crash in the southern province of Kandahar. | Twelve RAF personnel, a Royal Marine and an Army soldier were among those who died in the crash in the southern province of Kandahar. |
| The aircraft belonged to NATO-led international force against the Taleban. | The aircraft belonged to NATO-led international force against the Taleban. |
| An International Security Assistance Force spokesman said "enemy action had been discounted at this stage". | An International Security Assistance Force spokesman said "enemy action had been discounted at this stage". |
| Earlier, NATO said its forces had launched a major offensive against known hideouts of Taleban insurgents in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar, with the aim of driving them out of the area. | Earlier, NATO said its forces had launched a major offensive against known hideouts of Taleban insurgents in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar, with the aim of driving them out of the area. |
| There was no indication of an enemy attack on the plane, which was not a fighter jet, Maj Scott Lundy said. | |
| MoD Helpline A special helpline is available on 08457 800 900 for families concerned about relatives The crash came as Afghan and Nato troops began a major anti-Taleban drive in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar which has seen months of fighting. | |
| Afghanistan is experiencing its bloodiest period since the fall of the Taleban in 2001. Much of the fighting has been concentrated in the south. | Afghanistan is experiencing its bloodiest period since the fall of the Taleban in 2001. Much of the fighting has been concentrated in the south. |
| The plane came down about 20 km (12 miles) west of the city of Kandahar, Maj Lundy of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said. | The plane came down about 20 km (12 miles) west of the city of Kandahar, Maj Lundy of the International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said. |
| It was "supporting a Nato mission. It went off the radar and crashed in an open area in Kandahar." | It was "supporting a Nato mission. It went off the radar and crashed in an open area in Kandahar." |
| Nato forces are at the scene but there is no word on how many people were on board. A large Canadian contingent is based in Kandahar province. | Nato forces are at the scene but there is no word on how many people were on board. A large Canadian contingent is based in Kandahar province. |
| A local tribal elder told the Associated Press news agency by phone that the wreckage of the plane was burning in an open field. | A local tribal elder told the Associated Press news agency by phone that the wreckage of the plane was burning in an open field. |
| "I can see three or four helicopters in the sky, and coalition forces are also arriving in the area," he said. | "I can see three or four helicopters in the sky, and coalition forces are also arriving in the area," he said. |
| On Thursday, a Dutch F-16 fighter pilot was killed after his plane crashed in the southern province of Ghazni. | On Thursday, a Dutch F-16 fighter pilot was killed after his plane crashed in the southern province of Ghazni. |
| Officials said the crash was believed to be an accident. | Officials said the crash was believed to be an accident. |