Washington, 19 September 1997 (RFE/RL) - The U.S. State Department's top official for Bosnia, Robert Gelbard, will travel to that country to bring back the bodies of Americans killed in a helicopter crash there Wednesday.
State Department spokesman James Rubin said yesterday again that the death of five Americans and seven international peacekeepers has saddened and stunned the United States.
He said the crash of the United Nations helicopter underscores the dangers Americans and others risk to bring peace to Bosnia.
He urged the international community in their memory and honor to work harder to continue their mission of peace and not let it fail.
The helicopter hit a mountain in central Bosnia and burst into flames in what the U.S. yesterday called a tragic accident. The Ukrainian crew today blamed the crash on fog and poor visibility.