Another US helicopter down, British bases bombed

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Thursday February 22, 2007

Baghdad- Another US helicopter has crashed in Iraq,
Al-Arabiya television reports said Thursday.
The reports quoted witnesses as saying that a helicopter had
crashed north of Baquba, 60 kilometres north of Baghdad. None of the
crew were hurt, according to the reports.

If the US military command in Baghdad confirms the report, this
would be the eighth helicopter lost by the US military in Iraq within
the last month.

US General William Caldwell said that a helicopter attacked by
insurgents north of Baghdad on Wednesday was hit by bullets and
rocket-propelled grenades.

US media had recently reported that insurgents in Iraq had changed
their tactics to step up rocket attacks on helicopters.

Baquba is a Sunni insurgent stronghold.

An Iraqi security source said Thursday that two British military
bases in Basra, which has a predominantly Shiite population, had been
bombarded with rocket-propelled grenades in the past 24 hours.

The two British bases, located in downtown Basra and in the city's
Shat al-Arab hotel, were bombed Wednesday night and early Thursday
morning, the source added.

Basra is located 550 kilometres south of Baghdad. No details of
casualties were immediately available.

© 2006 - dpa German Press Agency

LinkHere