BAGHDAD, Jan. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- A US helicopter crashed north of Baghdad on Monday, the military said.

    Previously, the Dubai-based al-Arabiya channel said the helicopter was hit by a rocket in the area near the town of Meshahadah.

    The US military confirmed the incident, but said there was no immediate word on the fate of its two-member crew.

    US troops immediately cordoned off the area preventing people from approaching the scene, with several helicopters flying overhead, the channel said.

    The channel didn't give further details, including casualties in the incident.

    "There was a column of black smoke at the crash site after the mosque of Meshahadah, about 200 meters away from the main road from Baghdad to Tikrit," Amir Hamid, a witness told Xinhua.

    "Several US tanks and armored vehicles were entering the area,"Hamid added. Enditem