The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Kabul

An Afghan army helicopter crashed in central Afghanistan on Monday because of bad weather, killing four people, officials said.

The Mi-17 helicopter went down near a field in Salar district of Wardak province, where the weather was foggy, the defense ministry said in a statement.

At least four people were killed, said Wardak provincial police chief Zafaruddin, who goes by only one name. The authorities recovered three bodies from the burning wreckage, he said.

Two helicopters were traveling from Kabul toward western Afghanistan when one of them crashed, Zafaruddin said.

The crash happened a day after U.S.-led coalition troops conducted an airstrike and subsequent operation targeting Taliban weapon smugglers in the Musa Qala district of Helmand province, leaving several militants dead and two civilians wounded, the coalition said in a statement.