51.   It was carrying a Russian pilot and radio operator, a Nepalese co-pilot and cabin attendant, and the six Nepalese climbers.

52.   On Wednesday Interfax reported that the bodies of all four Russian pilots and the wreckage of their three planes had been found.

53.   Russian pilots frequently flew Ilyushin planes over Huambo in the central highlands and Kuito, the capital of Bie province, to the east of Huambo province.

54.   The Chechens have a particular hatred for the Russian pilots who have bombed the local civilian population.

55.   The helicopter was flown by a Russian pilot while the co-pilot and flight engineer were Nepalese.

56.   The incident occurred in the Chechen capital of Grozny, where the two men were trying to locate targets for air strikes by Russian pilots.

57.   The only person on board, Russian pilot Piotr Michel, was killed, they said.