Five NATO occupation troops in Afghanistan were killed in a helicopter crash in the south of the country on Saturday.

Five NATO occupation troops in Afghanistan were killed in a helicopter crash in the south of the country on Saturday.

"Five International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) service members died as a result of a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan," the force said.

In line with NATO policy, the coalition deferred casualty identification to national authorities.

"ISAF is still in the process of reviewing the circumstances to determine more facts."

There was no immediate claim of responsibility from the insurgents after Saturday's crash. However, the statement made no reference to whether any Taliban insurgents were active in the area when the helicopter came down.

Six US troops were killed when a Blackhawk chopper went down in the southern province of Zabul in December.