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Mali helicopter crash: Two Dutch UN peacekeepers die Mali helicopter crash: Two Dutch UN peacekeepers die
(35 minutes later)
A Dutch UN helicopter has crashed near Gao in northern Mali, killing two crew members, the Dutch defence ministry has said.A Dutch UN helicopter has crashed near Gao in northern Mali, killing two crew members, the Dutch defence ministry has said.
The cause of the crash is unclear but initial reports suggest it was an accident. A commander of the UN force in Mali told Associated Press the crew of the Apache had performed a forced landing, but he did not know why.
The helicopter is from the UN's Minusma mission, charged with peacekeeping operations in Mali, which was overrun by Islamist fighters in 2012. He added that the helicopter had not been attacked.
Minusma has about 11,000 personnel on the ground in Mali. The aircraft is from the UN's Minusma mission, charged with peacekeeping operations in Mali.
The mission took over security duties from France in 2013, after France intervened to stop the Islamists' march. Minusma has about 11,000 personnel on the ground in the country.
The mission took over security duties from France in 2013 after France had intervened to stop an Islamist insurgency a year earlier.
The Dutch defence ministry named the dead men as 30-year-old Capt Rene Zeetsen and 26-year-old 1st Lt Ernst Mollinger, adding that the families had been informed.The Dutch defence ministry named the dead men as 30-year-old Capt Rene Zeetsen and 26-year-old 1st Lt Ernst Mollinger, adding that the families had been informed.
Minusma has suffered regular attacks from militants: earlier this month, a rocket attack on a UN base in northern Mali killed three people.Minusma has suffered regular attacks from militants: earlier this month, a rocket attack on a UN base in northern Mali killed three people.