afrol News, 29 September - A helicopter contracted to United Nations-led peacekeepers and carrying four crew members crashed in Sudan's Darfur region today, killing at least two people.

According UNAMID spokesperson, Kemal Saiki, private chopper went down after leaving town of Nyala and crashed near Kalma camp for displaced people in western region of Sudan.

Mr Saiki said at least four other helicopters used by mission have been shot at since August, adding however that no casualties have been reported prior to today's incident.

"We are looking into unconfirmed reports there was shooting," he was quoted as saying.

"Aid workers got to scene and were able to recover two bodies. They said two others were presumed inside wreckage, which was still burning when they got there. But we can not confirm their deaths," he said.

He said crash site near Kalma camp was where more than 30 people died last month after armed government security forces raided settlement, saying they were searching for suspects and weapons.

Sudanese government says many rebels and bandits use Kalma as a base and weapons store. However, residents deny that.

One of Kalma residents told media that he heard sounds like shots before helicopter crashed just north of settlement, but he could not be certain.

UN reports show that more than five years of fighting in Darfur has killed 200,000 and driven more than 2.5 million from their homes. UN agencies and aid groups have launched world's largest humanitarian operation in response.

For its part, Khartoum accuses western media of exaggerating conflict and puts death count at only 10,000.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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