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Helicopter 'crashes near Baghdad' US helicopter shot down in Iraq
(about 10 hours later)
The Unites States military in Iraq says it is checking reports that a helicopter has gone down north of the capital, Baghdad. A helicopter has gone down north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad killing two US troops, the US military has confirmed.
Police and witnesses reported seeing a helicopter come down near a US air base at Taji, shortly after dawn. The US did not say what caused the crash but witnesses said the helicopter was shot down, near a US air base at Taji, shortly after dawn.
If confirmed, it would be the fourth helicopter lost in two weeks. Another helicopter was hit by gunfire but managed to fly away, they said.
Last month, 12 US soldiers died when a Black Hawk military helicopter crashed near Baghdad. The helicopter is believed to have been shot down. Last month, 12 US soldiers died when a Black Hawk military helicopter crashed.The US has lost more than 50 military helicopters in Iraq since May 2003.
The US military has lost more than 50 military helicopters in Iraq since May 2003. Officially the Pentagon did not say what sort of helicopter had crashed or how, but a US defence official anonymously told the AFP news agency that it was a US Army AH-64 Apache and that "the initial report is that it was a shoot-down".
"I can confirm that we are looking into reports that a helicopter went down north of Baghdad," US military spokeswoman Lt Col Josslyn Aberle said. Iraqi police and witnesses told the Associated Press that the crash occurred about 0730 (0430 GMT) as two Apaches were flying near Taji, a major US base about 20km (12 miles) north of Baghdad.
Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed Iraqi military source as saying his unit saw the helicopter go down near Taji, about 30km (20 miles) north of the capital. While one escaped the other flew back to attack the source of the gunfire, but was hit, exploded and fell to earth.
"We don't know the reasons for the crash, nor its exact site because the US army has sealed off the area," the source said. Two-day battle
Seperately the US military says it has killed 18 insurgents in the Sunni flashpoint town of Ramadi in western Iraq. Separately the US military said it had killed 18 insurgents in the Sunni flashpoint town of Ramadi in western Iraq.
It said US forces killed the insurgents over two days after troops there came under fire.It said US forces killed the insurgents over two days after troops there came under fire.
Meanwhile Iraq authorities have declared a curfew in the Shia city of Najaf amid an upsurge of violence in the area.Meanwhile Iraq authorities have declared a curfew in the Shia city of Najaf amid an upsurge of violence in the area.
Seventy-three people were killed and 167 injured in a double suicide bombing in nearby Hilla on Thursday.Seventy-three people were killed and 167 injured in a double suicide bombing in nearby Hilla on Thursday.
Also, some 263 people were killed in clashes with US-backed Iraqi troops near Najaf earlier this week.Also, some 263 people were killed in clashes with US-backed Iraqi troops near Najaf earlier this week.