BAGHDAD, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Two U.S. soldiers were killed and 12 others were injured when a U.S. helicopter crashed southeast of Baghdad on Tuesday, the U.S. military said.

    The incident took place near the town of Salaman Pak, some 25 km southeast of the capital, a military statement said without providing further details.

    Initial reports said that the incident was not the "result of enemy fire," adding that further investigations will be conducted to determine the cause of the incident.

    On August 22, a U.S. Blackhawk helicopter crashed in northern Iraq, killing 14 U.S. soldiers.

    Some 70 helicopters have crashed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, about half of them brought down by hostile fire.