Nine soldiers killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash

A helicopter carrying foreign troops crashed in Afghanistan today, killing nine members of the coalition.

An Afghan National Army soldier and an American civilian were injured but the nationalities of the dead have not been released.

The crash happened in north-western Zabul province. Mohammad Jan Rasoolyar, spokesman for the local governor, said the helicopter went down in Daychopan district.

"I was sitting taking my tea," said Nakeemullah, 20, who transports livestock. "I heard noise and I went outside to see what happened. I saw a lot of smoke in the sky. I could see that it was a helicopter and it went down on the backside of the mountain where I couldn't see."

It was the worst helicopter crash for international forces in four years. So far this year, 525 US and Nato forces have been killed in Afghanistan, compared with 504 last year.

Nato said there were no reports of enemy fire in the area but a Taliban spokesman said they had shot the helicopter down. The Taliban are known to take credit for accidents.