Details Still Coming To Light

REAL TIME UPDATE 0945 EDT: The death toll has climbed to nine in the crash of an American military transport helicopter in southeastern Afghanistan.

US military officials in Kabul said the CH47 Chinook helicopter was flying about 80 miles southeast of the capital, near the town of Ghazni, when it was apparently forced down by bad weather.

"We were first to arrive at the scene," Ghazni Provincial Governor Assadullah Khalid told Reuters. He said the helicopter crashed during a heavy dust storm. "We recovered two American soldiers' bodies and now American forces are in control of the situation. The chopper was burning when we were there."

"Initial report indicates that bad weather caused the crash and initial report also indicates that there are no survivors,"said Army Lieutenant Cindy Moore.

REAL TIME UPDATE 0802 EDT: American officials in Kabul, Afghanistan, say a US military transport helicopter -- type unknown -- has crashed in the southeastern part of that mountainous country.

At least five people are reported to have been lost in the mishap. So far, the military hasn't provided any details. There have been several military helicopter mishaps in Afghanistan. Some have been attributed to combat. Others have been ruled accidents where fierce weather and treacherous terrain have been factors.

FMI: www.centcom.mil