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2 killed as US helicopter shot down in Baghdad
Baghdad, Apr 12: Gunmen shot down a U.S. attack helicopter during fighting in western Baghdad on Sunday (April 11), killing its two crew members.
Baghdad, Apr 12: Gunmen shot down a U.S. attack helicopter during fighting in western Baghdad on Sunday (April 11), killing its two crew members.
A pall of black smoke rose on Baghdad's western edge where a military spokesman said the AH-64 Apache helicopter was downed by ground fire in the morning. More helicopters circled overhead, while U.S. troops closed off the main highway - a key supply route into the capital.
Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt told a news briefing on Sunday that the two-member crew was killed and a quick-reaction team was collecting the bodies.
"As we reported earlier, there was an AH-46 helicopter brought down by enemy fire today at about 11: 05 about five kilometres west of Baghdad International Airport," Kimmitt said.
"I am sad to report that the pilots have been declared killed in action. We have a quick reaction force on site conducting a recovery of the equipment and personnel and our hearts go up to the families that tonight will be getting that message and we will pray for them," he added.
US administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer told reporters that he was confident that Iraq will "have a representative government in place before June 30th" despite the violence which has gripped the city of Falluja over the past week.
"We are now working with the Secretary General of the UN special representative here, Brahimi to figure out the best way to get a representative government in place before the end of June so it has a little practice and then turn over sovereignty to it on June 30th and I'm confident that working with him and with the Iraqi people that we'll get that we'll have a representative government in place before June 30th," he said.
Civilians fled Falluja on Sunday after an informal truce halted a week of fighting between U.S. forces and rebels in which hundreds of Iraqis died.
In Falluja, a hospital director said more than 600 Iraqis had been killed in the past week of fighting.
More than 50 U.S. or allied troops have been reported killed across Iraq in the bloodiest spasm of fighting since U.S.-led forces ousted Saddam Hussein a year ago.
Bureau Report
US administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer told reporters that he was confident that Iraq will "have a representative government in place before June 30th" despite the violence which has gripped the city of Falluja over the past week.
"We are now working with the Secretary General of the UN special representative here, Brahimi to figure out the best way to get a representative government in place before the end of June so it has a little practice and then turn over sovereignty to it on June 30th and I'm confident that working with him and with the Iraqi people that we'll get that we'll have a representative government in place before June 30th," he said.
Civilians fled Falluja on Sunday after an informal truce halted a week of fighting between U.S. forces and rebels in which hundreds of Iraqis died.
In Falluja, a hospital director said more than 600 Iraqis had been killed in the past week of fighting.
More than 50 U.S. or allied troops have been reported killed across Iraq in the bloodiest spasm of fighting since U.S.-led forces ousted Saddam Hussein a year ago.
Bureau Report