Nine NATO troops killed in Afghan helicopter crash

The cause was not immediately clear. The Taliban claimed to have shot down the helicopter,but NATO said there were no reports of hostile fire.

It happened in Zabul province — rugged terrain where helicopters are heavily used to transport military troops spread over mountainous areas with few roads.

One other coalition service member,an Afghan National Army soldier and a US civilian were injured.

So far this year,525 US and NATO forces have been killed in Afghanistan,surpassing the 504 killed last year. This year has been the deadliest for international forces since the war began in 2001.

The helicopter crash occurred in northwestern Zabul province in the early morning hours,according to a NATO official,who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to disclose the location of the crash. Mohammad Jan Rasoolyar,a spokesman for the provincial governor in

Zabul,said the helicopter went down in Daychopan district.

The NATO contingent in Zabul is dominated by US and Romanian forces.

“I was sitting taking my tea,” said Nakeemullah,20,who works transporting livestock in the area. “I heard noise and I went outside to see what happened.

“I saw a lot of smoke in the sky,” said Nakeemullah,who uses only one name. “It was far away for me,but I could see that it was a helicopter and it went down on the backside of the mountain where I couldn’t see.”

NATO said there were no reports of enemy fire in the area. However,Taliban spokesman,Qari Yousef Ahmadi,told The Associated Press by telephone that insurgents shot down the helicopter. The Taliban often exaggerate their claims and sometimes take credit for accidents.