11 killed as Black Hawk downed in Afghanistan: ISAF

KABUL (AFP) - A North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) Black Hawk helicopter came down in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, killing seven international soldiers and four Afghans, the military said, as Taleban insurgents claimed to have shot it down.

Three United States (US) soldiers, four other members of the US-led Nato mission, three members of the Afghan security forces and an Afghan civilian interpreter were killed, Nato's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.

"The cause of the crash is under investigation," it said, adding that the helicopter was a UH-60 Black Hawk. The statement gave no further details.

Taleban spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi told AFP: "Our mujahideen (holy warriors) shot down an ISAF helicopter in Chenarto area of Shah Wali Kot district in Kandahar province at around 0630 GMT (2.30pm Singapore time).