Helicopter crash kills foreign soldier in Afghanistan

KABUL: A member of the coalition force in Afghanistan died Saturday after his helicopter crashed, the military said, as two Afghan policemen died in a separate Taliban ambush.

The helicopter went down after apparently hitting a cable connecting two mountains in Kapisa province, northeast of the capital Kabul.

International troops came under fire from insurgents as they arrived at the scene to rescue two crew members, NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.

"The two crew members were recovered by coalition forces, one died at the scene from injuries received in the crash," it said in a statement.

"Aircraft recovery operations and heavy fighting continue in the area. The cause of the crash is unknown and is under investigation."

It did not disclose the nationality of the dead service member, in line with policy.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed its forces had shot down the helicopter, killing all those aboard. The militants are known frequently to exaggerate their claims.

The serviceman was the second from the NATO-led ISAF to die Saturday.

Another was killed separately in eastern Afghanistan, ISAF said, without giving further details. (AFP)