[Gocamino] (no subject)

[Sil]

MADRID, Aug. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Seventeen Spanish soldiers died in
Afghanistan when their helicopter crashed on Tuesday, Spain's Ministry
of Defense said.

    It is not yet clear why the helicopter crashed, but there were no
survivors, the ministry said.

    According to preliminary information, the helicopter crashed near
Herat, western Afghanistan, in an area controlled by the Spanish
contingent made up of about 850 soldiers.

    Most of the soldiers on board belonged to the Airborne Light
Brigade, whose last battalion, 85-strong, left Santiago de Compostela
last Aug. 12 for Afghanistan.

    The Spanish military mission is to guarantee security during the
next Afghan parliamentary elections scheduled for Sept. 18.

    The Spanish troops are part of the NATO-led International Security
Assistance Force, deployed under an UN mandate and made up of around
10,000 troops from 37 countries. Enditem

     
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-08/17/content_3364052.htm

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Sil