Russia probes killing of three pilots in South Darfur clash

September 30, 2008 (PARIS) — Moscow said probing the circumstances of the death of three Russian pilots in a helicopter crash in Sudan’s South Darfur state, the Foreign Ministry said today.

On September 29, a Mi-8 helicopter contracted to carry food aid for the UN African Union mission in Darfur crashed near Kalma Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp shortly after its takeoff from Nyala. It was owned by a Sudanese airliner and hired by UNAMID.

“As a result all crewmembers, including three Russians, died. The Russian foreign ministry keeps close contacts with the embassy in Khartoum that is investigating the accident,” said a spokesperson of f the Russian foreign ministry.

Yesterday Khartoum accused the rebel movements in Darfur of shooting the helicopter but Darfur IDPs and rebels dismissed the claim and said Khartoum was behind the attack.

The hybrid mission announced that it was investigating the causes of the incident without elaborating.

The chopper crashed in an area between Kalma camp and Nyala airport. Two of the crew members died at the scene while two other died of their wounds at the hospital later.

(ST)