British military transport plane crashes near Baghdad

A British military transport plane crashed northwest of Baghdad yesterday, the British Ministry of Defence said.

No details have yet been established about what caused the C-130 Hercules transport plane to come down or the extent of any casualties.

"An RAF C-130 Hercules crashed at around 1725 local time on January 30, some 30 kilometres northwest of Baghdad," a statement from the ministry in London said.

"The cause of the crash, and the extent of casualties among personnel on board are not yet known. Further details will be promulgated as soon as possible."

US officials said the plane crashed near the Iraqi capital, and media reports said the aircraft was on its way to the city of Balad from Baghdad when it crashed.

Hercules transport planes can carry military equipment or large numbers of passengers, accommodating up to 92 troops, 64 paratroops or several freight pallets.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said British service personnel were killed, but did not say how many.

He paid tribute to those who died, saying: "This country and the wider world will never forget them."