Myanmar helicopter crashes in northern battle zone

YANGON (AP) - Kachin ethnic rebels battling Myanmar's army in the country's north said they shot down a government helicopter, but the army denied the claim, saying on Saturday that the chopper crashed due to engine failure.

An emailed announcement from the Kachin guerrillas said they shot down the helicopter late on Friday as heavy fighting raged.

Myanmar's deputy information minister and presidential spokesman Ye Htut confirmed on his Facebook page that a government helicopter had crashed, but said engine failure was to blame.

He described the accident as an "emergency landing".