WORLD
Deadly Military Helicopter Explosion in Afghanistan
Baku, October 12 (AZERTAC). An explosion on a NATO military helicopter in eastern Afghanistan has killed one person and wounded eight others.
NATO says the helicopter had just landed in Kunar province Tuesday when an explosion of "unknown origin" occurred on board. The cause of the blast is being investigated.
The alliance says 26 people were on the helicopter. The wounded were evacuated to a medical facility for treatment. NATO lowered the casualty figure after initially saying the blast killed two people and wounded ten others.
Separately, NATO says one of its service members was killed Tuesday in a roadside bombing in the south, where thousands of NATO-led troops are trying to dislodge Taliban militants from their tradition strongholds.
Meanwhile, the Afghan Interior Ministry says insurgents killed at least six Afghan civilians in eastern Paktika province firing a rocket that hit the civilians` vehicle. The ministry says the dead include women and children.
The war in Afghanistan is now in its deadliest year so far. Around 152,000 foreign troops under U.S. and NATO command are fighting a Taliban insurgency that has steadily expanded since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion brought down their regime.