Military helicopter crashes in Senegal, kills 8

DAKAR, Senegal (AA) - A Senegalese military helicopter has crashed in the central part of the country, killing eight people and injuring several others, a military official said on Thursday.

Col. Abdoul Ndiaye, Senegalese army spokesman, said the crash occurred on Wednesday night in Missirah in central Senegal.

The Mi-17 helicopter was traveling from Ziguinchor in southwestern Senegal to the capital Dakar, according to the army.

The first statement by the government at around midnight reported the deaths of six people and 14 wounded, including three seriously.

The helicopter was carrying civilians returning from a funeral in Ziguinchor with a military crew. A journalist from Senegalese television RTS is among the injured.

Col. Ndiaye did not reveal the identities of those killed.

The government said it has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.