Eighteen Venezuelan soldiers died in a helicopter crash near Venezuela's border with Colombia today, AP cited President Hugo Chavez as saying. The soldiers were patrolling the 1,400-mile (2,300-kilometer) border separating Venezuela and Colombia when the Mi-25 military helicopter crashed near the town of El Alto de Rubio, the state-run Bolivarian News Agency reported. Two pilots and the entire crew were killed. Army Brig. Gen. Domingo Alberto Feneite was among the victims. Officials said the nearest military base lost radio contact with the helicopter shortly after midday. Neither Chavez nor the military mentioned the cause of the crash. Chavez sent condolences to the families of the victims, saying, «They died while they were on duty and serving the fatherland.»
