4 killed in Army copter crash

ISLAMABAD—Four soldiers, abroad a Pakistan Army Helicopter MI-17 assigned for President Musharraf’s security, were killed and six wounded when their helicopter crashed during a visit to Azad Kashmir by President General Pervez Musharraf on Monday to mark the second anniversary of an earthquake in the region, an army spokesman said.
However according to unofficial sources the number of dead soldiers is 6. President’s spokesman and Press Secretary Maj. Gen (retd) Rashid Qurieshi and president’s security staff are among the serious injured. Maj.Gen Rashid Qureshi was immediately shifted to Rawalpindi CMH hospital According to military sources, President Gen Pervez Musharraf was on tour to quake affected areas of Azad Kashmir when the helicopter behind his chopper suddenly crashed 20 km from Muzaffarabad at Srinagar Road near Garhi Doppata at Majmohi. General Musharraf, who had traveled ahead in another helicopter and was unhurt.
According to eyewitnesses the chopper carrying 10 soldiers including Maj. Gen (retd) Rashid Qurieshi had started swerving and the pilot made an emergency landing however the chopper suddenly caught fire upon landing killing four soldiers and wounding 6. All these soldiers were assigned on special security duty for the President and were part of his security team.—Agencies