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NATO: 4 troops die in copter crash

| June 22, 2010 9:00 PM

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A military helicopter crashed during an early morning operation in southern Afghanistan on Monday, killing three Australian commandoes and an American service member, officials said.

The crash was being investigated but there were no indications of enemy involvement, NATO officials reported.

The Australian government said three of the dead were Australians, and U.S. Lt. Col. Joseph T. Breasseale said the fourth service member killed was American.

Australian Air Chief Marshal Houston said seven other Australian soldiers were wounded.

The crash comes in a particularly deadly month for NATO forces. Included the most recent deaths, at least 57 international troops, including 35 Americans, have died so far in June. That could make June among the deadliest for international forces in the nearly nine-year war. The deadliest month so far for the military alliance was July 2009 when 75 troops, including 44 Americans, were killed.