Two British troops killed in Iraq helicopter crash

LONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) Two British military personnel were killed in Iraq when their Puma helicopter crashed near Baghdad, the Ministry of Defence said.

''Two other personnel were seriously injured, but are now recovering in hospital. It is too early to speculate on the cause of the crash,'' the MoD said in a statement today, adding the families of those killed had been informed.

The MoD said an inquiry had been launched and investigators were en route to Iraq.

A US military spokesman in Iraq said yesterday that initial reports indicated that the crash near the town of Salman Pak, 45 km south of Baghdad, was not caused by enemy fire.

Two US military helicopters crashed in Iraq in August, killing a total of 19 US service personnel.

REUTERS RJ KP1646