31 US soldiers and 7 Afghan soldiers have been killed in a helicopter crash in the east of the country according to the Afghan government.

The Afghan Prime Minister Hamid Karzai said the ‘accident’ happened west of the capital Kabul in Wardak province.

The dead soldiers were all working on a joint operation between US and Afghan forces against the Taliban when the Chinook crashed.

Some whitnesses claim the helicopter was shot down by the Taliban, investigation has been started to give more certainty about the crash.

The crash claims the heaviest los of life in one blow since the war started some ten years ago.

(photo: archive Chinook 47F, US Army)