ARMY HELICOPTER SHOT DOWN BY TALIBAN, 7 KILLED

KABUL: Seven were killed early yesterday after an Afghan army helicopter was shot down by Taliban militants in Baghlan province, an official said. “The helicopter was delivering supplies to a military outpost in Tapa-e Qorghan area of Pul-e Khumri, the capital of the province,” Mohammad Zarif Zarif, a Baghlan council member said. Taliban militants claimed responsibility for the incident, adding that the helicopter was going to an army outpost it had surrounded. The dead were four Afghan airforce members and three soldiers. – dpa