Chechen gunmen down Russian military helicopter, 17 soldiers killed

Moscow, Apr 27 (UNI) Chechen gunmen today downed a Russian Mi-8 helicopter carrying troops during a special operation against the terrorists, killing 17 troops, Russian news agencies reported, adding there were no survivors.

''According to available information, all people including three crew members and 14 paratroopers aboard the downed helicopter died,'' a source in the headquarters of the United Army Group in the North Caucasus told Itar-Tass news agency.

''A special operation to eliminate an illegal armed group has been under way to the south from the Shatoi town, 30 miles south of Grozny, the Chechen capital. Three Mi-8 helicopters with landing parties were sent to the district. One of them was brought down,'' it said.

The soldiers were reported to have served with Battalion South of the Combined Federal Force stationed in Chechnya. Most of its personnel are local citizens.

''An investigation team arrived at the helicopter crash site,'' chief press officer of the Russian Air Force Col Alexander Drobyshevsky told Itar-Tass.

UNI