Helicopter crashes in southern Kazakhstan, ten people killed.

ASTANA, September 8 (Itar-Tass) - According to immediate reports, ten people were killed and three were hospitalised in a moderately grave
condition when a Mi-8 helicopter of the Kazakh National Security Committee crashed in southern Kazakhstan on Tuesday, local media reports say.

The helicopter was on a mission connected with protection of the
Kazakh-Uzbek border. "Information was received from border troops of the
Uzbek National Security Council that six armed criminals were getting
ready to illegally cross the Kazakh-Uzbek border. In that connection, the
command of the regional department Ontustik took measures to strengthen
border control at the section of a possible illegal crossing of the
border," the press service of the republican border service reported.
The helicopter with the crew of three flew to the Ugam gorge with a
reconnaissance group of three officers and seven military serving on
contractual basis. Communication with the helicopter was lost at 8:30 am,
Moscow time. Workers of the Ugam forestry reported on the crash.
-0-zhe/gor