A helicopter that crashed in Russia's rebel Chechnya region killing both crew members was shot down by separatists, according to reports.
Initial official reports about the crash of the Mi-24 in central Chechnya yesterday had suggested it had come down because of technical failure.
"The helicopter was shot down by a grenade launcher when it was flying at a height of 10-15 metres," Interfax quoted an unnamed member of the defence ministry's investigation team as saying.
The official denied a report by the Chechen rebel web site kavkazcenter.com, that said the helicopter was downed by a shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missile.
Despite an end to large-scale hostilities, rebels continue attacking Russian troops and the pro-Moscow authorities. Several people were wounded on Monday when rebels fired at a military official in central Chechnya, Itar-Tass news agency said.
Russian military helicopters have become frequent rebel targets since Chechen fighters obtained US-made Stingers. But the Russian military has been shy to admit that the rebels had also been able to buy similar Russian-made weapons..
