U.N Chopper Crashes in Nepal, 10 Dead

KATMANDU, NEPAL, March, 3, 2008— -- A United Nations helicopter crashedMonday while flying in bad weather in Nepal's mountainous east,killing at least 10 people, officials said.

Home Ministry spokesman Modraj Dotel confirmed the helicopterwas carrying U.N. personnel. Mohan Adhikari, chief of the air rescue unit at Katmanduairport, said rescuers have pulled 10 bodies from the wreckage butstill did not know how many people were on board.

"We have conflicting reports that there were either 11 or 15people on board but even the U.N. representatives are not sure howmany were there on the helicopter," Adhikari said.

Villagers saw a ball of fire after the helicopter crashed on amountain near Bethani, a village about 125 miles east of Katmandu,police official Chinu Acharya said by telephone.

Sudden rain on Monday forced the cancellation of many scheduledcommercial flights and prevented rescue helicopters from reachingthe crash site.

Flying in bad weather is often difficult in Nepal, which ismostly covered by mountainous terrain. Pilots often use theirvision to navigate through the mountains and depend less oninstruments.

The United Nations has been helping Nepal's peace process since2006, when communist rebels gave up their armed revolt and joinedmainstream politics. The rebels confined their combatants andweapons in camps under the supervision of U.N. arms monitors.

APTV 03-03-08 0752EST