A U.S. Marine helicopter was shot down Thursday morning during fighting in the southern city of Najaf, the military said. No one was killed in the crash of the UH-1 helicopter, said Spc. Justin McCue, a U.S. military spokesman. However, the crew sustained injuries and was evacuated from the area, he said. The helicopter was shot down about 11:43 a.m. as militiamen loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr fought with Iraqi and U.S. forces. The clashes killed at least two people and wounded eight, Health Ministry officials said. Al-Sadr's Mahdi Army attacked a police station there with mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire. U.S. Marines entered the area to assist the police, residents said.
