UPDATE 2 - Turkey: 10 soldiers martyred in military helicopter crash

UPDATES DEATH TOLL TEN, INCLUDES COMMANDER OF 8TH CORPS AMONG MARTYRS, MINOR EDITS

By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA (AA) - At least 10 Turkish soldiers, including a senior officer, were martyred and three others injured as a military helicopter crashed in eastern Turkey on Thursday, the National Defense Ministry said.

“The number of our martyrs has increased to 10. We wish God's mercy upon our heroic martyrs,” the ministry said on Twitter.

In an earlier statement, the ministry said nine soldiers lost their lives and four soldiers were injured in the crash in Bitlis province.

Later, one of the soldiers succumbed to his wounds.

The contact with the Cougar-type military helicopter, which took off from the eastern Bingol province for the Tatvan district of Bitlis at 1.55 p.m. local time [1055GMT], was cut off at 2.25 p.m. [1125GMT].

"The efforts are underway for the transfer of our injured personnel to the hospital," the ministry said.

Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli announced on Twitter that Commander of the 8th Corps Lt. Gen. Osman Erbas was among martyrs.

Bahceli extended his condolences to martyrs' families, Turkish nation and the Turkish Armed Forces over the deadly crash.

- Condolences pour in after crash

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wished Allah's mercy upon martyred soldiers and extended his condolences to their families, Turkish nation and the Turkish Armed Forces.

The president was informed by National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar following the crash.

Vice President Fuat Oktay, on Twitter, also extended condolences to martyred soldiers' families.

"The pain of our heroic soldiers who were martyred tore our hearts out. I wish mercy from Allah to our martyrs and quick recovery to our wounded," Oktay said.

Also writing on Twitter, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said: "I wish Allah's mercy upon our nine soldiers who were martyred, and patience to their families in sorrow."

"I wish a quick recovery to our four wounded soldiers. Our pain is huge," he said.

Communications Director Fahrettin Altun also conveyed his condolences and wished Allah’s mercy upon the martyrs and quick recovery to the injured.

The country's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu said: "I wish Allah’s mercy upon our soldiers who were martyred as a result of the helicopter crash. My condolences to their families and relatives, and quick recovery to our injured soldiers."