Sepcial Report: Tension accelerates in Iraq

¡¡  BAGHDAD, May 6 (Xinhua) -- A British helicopter on Saturday crashed into a residential area in Basra, some 550 km southeast of Baghdad, local Iraqiya TV reported.

    The British military confirmed the crash, saying there were some casualties, but did not reveal further details.

    There was no immediate word on casualties, but a local police source said that four bodies could be seen inside the British helicopter, according to Iraqiya.

    No casualties were reported on the ground. Local residents told Iraqiya that the helicopter crashed into a house in a residential area in Basra. The Iraqi TV aired short footage from Basra which showed heavy smoke and flames billowing from the crash site.

    In addition, witnesses told the TV that the helicopter was brought down by a missile or a rocket.

    The British military did not immediately give the cause of the crash.

    British soldiers deployed in Basra have rushed to the scene and local Iraqi residents gathered at the crash site and celebrated, according to TV pictures.

    Britain, a key ally with the United States in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, currently maintains some 8,000 troops in southern Iraq. Enditem