Afghan helicopter crash kills 31 US troops

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A US helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan has killed 31 US special forces and seven Afghan soldiers, President Hamid Karzai's office says.
The helicopter was taking the personnel back to their base after an operation.
It is not clear how the crash happened but the Taliban have said they shot the helicopter down.
The incident is believed to be the biggest single loss of life for US forces in Afghanistan since they began operations in 2001.
The helicopter went down overnight in Wardak province, the statement from President Karzai's office said.
It was returning from an operation against the Taliban in which eight insurgents are believed to have been killed.
"The president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan expresses his sympathy and deep condolences to US President Barack Obama and the family of the victims," the statement said.
The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force has confirmed the helicopter crash but has not released details of casualties or the cause.
Nato said it was mounting an operation to recover the helicopter and find out why it crashed.


A Taliban spokesman said insurgents brought down the helicopter with a rocket, Associated Press news agency said.
A Wardak government spokesman quoted by AFP news agency agreed with this, saying the helicopter was hit as it was taking off.
It is believed the helicopter was a Chinook, commonly used by coalition forces in Afghanistan to ferry troops in and out of combat.


6 August 2011 Last updated at 10:22

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