August 05, 2004

Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A Marine helicopter was shot down Thursday morning during fighting in the southern city of Najaf but the crew survived, the military said.
It wasn’t clear how many people were aboard the UH-1 helicopter, but some were injured and were evacuated, military spokesman Spc. Justin McCue said.

The helicopter was shot down about 11:43 a.m. as militiamen loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr fought with Iraqi and U.S. forces. The clashes killed at least two people and wounded eight, Health Ministry officials said.

Al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army attacked a police station there with mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire. Marines entered the area to assist the police, residents said.