BAGHDAD, Jan. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Two US pilots were killed on Friday when their military helicopter crashed in northern Iraq,the military said in a statement.

   Previous reports said the two were wounded and unconscious after their OH-58 Kiowa reconnaissance helicopter crashed in Mosul,the third largest Iraqi city some 400 km north of Baghdad, on Friday afternoon.

   The aircraft was called to support backup to Iraqi police under hostile fire.

   It was not immediately known if the helicopter was shot down by insurgents.

   It was the second US helicopter which crashed in norther Iraqin less than a week. A military UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed on Saturday, killing all 12 people aboard.  Enditem