Iraq chopper crash had mechanical cause

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute Friday discounted terrorist claims of responsibility for a downed helicopter in Iraq this week.

Lute, the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Pentagon news conference the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter that crashed Wednesday -- one of six choppers that have gone down in the last three weeks -- apparently suffered a mechanical failure. Seven died.

Lute said, however, two of the other five choppers were brought down by enemy fire while another was the result of pilot error.