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| EIGHT UK TROOPS KILLED |
| Eight British and four American soldiers have
been killed after a US Marine helicopter crashed in
Kuwait.
They were on board the CH-46 Sea Knight aircraft as part of
the invading force of allied troops involved in seizing
oilfields on the Al Faw peninsula in southern Iraq.
Lt Col Ben Curry, a Royal Marines spokesman in Kuwait,
said: "Regrettably, during the deployment phase, a US
helicopter crashed.
"There were eight UK servicemen from 3 Commando Brigade and
four US air crew. None survived the crash."
Noble cause
In the House of Commons, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said:
"A recovery team is at the site of the crash. Our urgent
priority is to confirm the identities of those who died and
notify the next of kin at the earliest opportunity.
"The cause of the incident is being investigated but I can
assure the House that it was not the result of enemy
action."
Shadow Defence Secretary Bernard Jenkin said
that British personnel who died did so "for a noble
cause".
Their deaths should strengthen the country's resolve to
disarm Saddam, he added.
The accident happened at 12.37am UK time, nine miles south
of the Iraqi border.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, US officials
said, adding that hostile fire had not been reported in the
area.
Condolences
Sky's David Bowden, with 3 Commando, said: "Lots of people
are hurting quite badly here...but they have achieved their
objective, they have got Al Faw."
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said "my personal, and the
British Government's condolences to the family and loved ones
of the service personnel who perished in the helicopter
accident".
Speaking in Brussels, he added: "This is an illustration of
the risks which our very brave young men and women face when
going into active service."
Earlier, two other US military helicopters made crash
landings during operations along the Kuwait-Iraq border.
One was later destroyed by American warplanes to prevent it
from falling into Iraqi hands, US Defence Department officials
said. | 
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