A Dutch UN helicopter has crashed near Gao in northern Mali, killing its two crew members, the Dutch defence ministry has said.

The Apache helicopter made a forced landing during a military exercise, the UN force in Mali said in a statement.

The Dutch armed forces chief, Gen Tom Middendorp, said: “Everything points to this being an accident.”

The aircraft was from the Minusma mission charged with peacekeeping since Islamist fighters were forced out.

One crew member survived the crash but died later of his injuries at a French field hospital, Gen Middendorp told a news conference in The Hague.

Gen Middendorp said an investigation into the cause of the crash was under way.

www.bbc.com