1.   Arcuri said the helicopters, whose home base is in Kandahar, were carrying passengers and cargo and providing refueling facilities for the military operation.

2.   A Defense Agency spokesman said several helicopters, fighter planes have been placed on alert, as well as a squad of chemical weapons experts.

3.   Air force spokesman Col. Jose Mendoza said four helicopters and two light planes were searching for the missing aircraft.

4.   Air force spokesman Col. Jose Mendoza said six helicopters and two light planes were searching for the missing aircraft.

5.   Bronnoysund Police Chief Bjorn Hareide said rescue helicopters, military aircraft and ships had all been directed to the area to search for the helicopter.

6.   Civil Defense chief Yuri Zhulin said helicopters and cross-country vehicles were dispatched to search for greener pastures.

7.   He said helicopters, a patrol boat and nearby ships were searching for the missing crew members.

8.   He said military helicopters and soldiers had been dispatched from Garissa and Wajir to capture the animals.

9.   He said air force helicopters and planes had taken generators, satellite phones, doctors and engineering experts into the arid border town.

10.   In Israel, the army said its helicopter gunships returned fire after they were fired upon.