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Egypt denies gunmen shooting down of army helicopter

CAIRO, April 21 (KUNA) -- The Egyptian Armed Forces denied Sunday reports of unknown gunmen shooting down an army helicopter in the southwestern governorate of Al-Wadi Al-Gadid.
In statements carried by the Egypt's state news agency, MENA, the Armed Forces spokesman General Ahmed Mohamed Ali said that the Egyptian military helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing as a result of a sudden malfunction in East Oweinat area, near Al-Wadi Al-Gadid Governorate.
Ali stated that the Russian-made Mi-17 aircraft was carrying out a routine surveillance of the southern borders when it suffered the malfunction.
There were no casualties in the accident and no damage to the helicopter following its landing, he confirmed. (end) asm.sfm.ibi KUNA 211842 Apr 13NNNN