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Helicopter collision kills 17; worst U.S. postwar Iraq loss

BAGHDAD(AP) - Two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters plummeted to the ground Nov. 15, killing at least 17 soldiers and wounding five in the largest single loss of American life in Iraq since major combat ended May 1, the military said.

The crash in the northern city of Mosul, the latest in a string of deadly incidents involving U.S. helicopters in Iraq, came as the United States took steps to reduce its civilian presence in the country far earlier than originally envisioned.

In the course-changing move, Paul Bremer, the top U.S. official in Baghdad, signed an agreement with the Iraqi Governing Council that calls for the American-led occupation to end, the council to dissolve and a transitional government to take power by the end of June.

U.S. officials declined to speculate on the cause of the Mosul crash. A witness said one of the helicopters was hit by ground fire before it crashed into the other helicopter, and a U.S. soldier said he heard reports that one of the choppers was hit by a rocket.

The dual crash came hours after the death of a soldier in Baghdad brought to 400 the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq since the war began in March. So far this month, nearly 80 allied troops have died from hostile fire, including 19 Italians in a suicide bombing in the southern city of Nasiriyah.

The plan for a new government reflected Washington's desire to speed up the handover of power as attacks against American occupation forces grow more sophisticated and deadly. The Bush administration stopped insisting that a constitution be drawn up and elections be held before the transfer.

Shukan ST: Nov. 28, 2003

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National News Helicopter collision kills 17; worst U.S. postwar Iraq loss BAGHDAD(AP) - Two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters plummeted to the ground Nov. 15, killing at least 17 soldiers and wounding five in the largest single loss of American life in Iraq since major combat ended May 1, the military said. The crash in the northern city of Mosul, the latest in a string of deadly incidents involving U.S. helicopters in Iraq, came as the United States took steps to reduce its civilian presence in the country far earlier than originally envisioned. In the course-changing move, Paul Bremer, the top U.S. official in Baghdad, signed an agreement with the Iraqi Governing Council that calls for the American-led occupation to end, the council to dissolve and a transitional government to take power by the end of June. U.S. officials declined to speculate on the cause of the Mosul crash. A witness said one of the helicopters was hit by ground fire before it crashed into the other helicopter, and a U.S. soldier said he heard reports that one of the choppers was hit by a rocket. The dual crash came hours after the death of a soldier in Baghdad brought to 400 the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq since the war began in March. So far this month, nearly 80 allied troops have died from hostile fire, including 19 Italians in a suicide bombing in the southern city of Nasiriyah. The plan for a new government reflected Washington's desire to speed up the handover of power as attacks against American occupation forces grow more sophisticated and deadly. The Bush administration stopped insisting that a constitution be drawn up and elections be held before the transfer. Shukan ST: Nov. 28, 2003 (C) All rights reserved