Afghan army chopper crash 'kills 17'

At least 17 people, including 12 Afghan army soldiers, have been killed in a helicopter crash in the southern province of Zabul, officials say.

An Afghan official says a military helicopter has crashed in the country's south, killing 17 people, including five pilots.

Mirwais Noorzai, the chief of police in Zabul province, said the Afghan National Army helicopter crashed in a remote region of the province on Thursday morning.

He said the cause of the crash is unknown and under investigation.

He said the other 12 people killed were all soldiers.