Senior officers killed in Colombian helicopter crash

Officials in Colombia say a military helicopter has crashed, killing seven people including two high-ranking officers.

The crash happened near the Panamanian border, shortly after the aircraft took off from the Pacific port of Bahia Solano.

The military team -- including General Luis Gutierrez and Admiral Jose Augusto Matallana -- had been visiting various bases delivering Christmas presents.

The Ministry of Defence has rejected any suggestion that the helicopter might have been shot down by rebels.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service