A helicopter escorting Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to an earthquake memorial crashed in Pakistani Kashmir yesterday, killing four people and wounding his spokesman, officials said.
Musharraf was unharmed and his own chopper landed in Muzaffarabad, the regional capital, where he led a ceremony in remembrance of the 73,000 people killed in the Oct. 8, 2005, quake, they said.
But the crash will raise questions about security for Musharraf, a crucial US ally in the "war on terror" who has escaped at least three assassination attempts including a bid to shoot down his plane in July.
"The chopper was in the party going with the president when a technical fault developed, causing it to crash land and catch fire," chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said.
"Four people were killed. Major General retired Rashid Qureshi was also injured but he is out of danger," said Arshad, referring to Musharraf's official spokesman.
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