BAGHDAD, Nov. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The death toll from the downing ofUS Chinook helicopter near Fallujah, Iraq, rose to 15 from 13, with21 injured in the crash.

    Fifteen people were killed and 21 others injured on Sunday whena US military transport helicopter was shot down by an unkownweapon in western Iraq, the US military said.

    Earlier a US spokesman told Xinhua that 13 people, most likelyUS soldiers, were killed in the incident.

    "Now 15 killed, 21 wounded," said a US military spokeswoman, butshe did not confirm if all the victims were US soldiers.The helicopter was downed around 9:00 a.m. (0600 GMT) in    Amiryaht al-Fallujah (a district of the town of Fallujah), 50 kmwest of Baghdad.

    The wounded have been evacuated for treatment in medicalfacilities and authorities are searching for survivors, thespokesman added.

    According to the US military, around 35 people were on board theCH-47 Chinook helicopter en route to the Baghdad InternationalAirport when it was attacked.

    The transport helicopter was the third aircraft that themilitary confirmed shot down by anti-US fighters after the majorconflict was declared over on May 1. Enditem