ROME - Four Italians were killed in southern Iraq when their military helicopter crashed during the night near the city of Nasiriyah, where Italian troops are based, the Italian army said Tuesday.
Officials said the crash was likely accidental, but the deaths prompted renewed calls for Italy to withdraw its 3,000-strong contingent from Iraq.
The army said the helicopter, based at Tallil airport, "came down overnight for reasons that remain to be determined."
The crash happened about 20 kilometres (12 miles) southeast of Nasiriyah in southern Iraq, it added.
"For the time being, and on the basis of the evidence gathered, my opinion is that it was an accident," Defence Undersecretary Filippo Berselli said.
"The helicopter crashed in a deserted area," Berselli said, adding that an inquiry would be opened.
Berselli also said that the helicopter was armed with anti-missile defence.
The helicopter was returning to base after dropping off an Italian soldier at Kuwait City who was on his way home for family reasons, the army said.
"Shortly after take-off from Camp Buehring base, where the aircraft stopped for refuelling, radio contact was lost." The wreckage was found several hours later.
The soldiers were aged between 29 and 39.
Their deaths bring to 25 the number of Italians killed since Rome deployed its soldiers in June 2003 as part of a US-led military coalition. The highest single death toll was a November 2003 truck bombing that killed 17 soldiers and two civilians.
Opposition communists and Greens renewed their calls on the government to pull Italian troops out of Iraq.
Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini expressed his condolences to the families of the soldiers and said "peacekeeping in Iraq and the possibility for its people to conquer a free and democratic future unfortunately demands sacrifices."
The war is widely unpopular in Italy, particularly after a "friendly fire" incident this year in which US soldiers shot dead an Italian secret service agent who was bringing a journalist to safety after securing her release in Baghdad.
05/31/2005 13:18 GMT