Ukraine army helicopter shot down: 9 killed

A Ukrainian military helicopter has been shot down by pro-Russian rebels in the east, with casualties feared, the Ukrainian military says.
It says the Mi-8 helicopter used for transporting military cargo was hit by a rocket shortly after take-off near the rebel-held city of Sloviansk.
Reports say all nine people on board were killed.
This comes a day after the rebels vowed to observe a ceasefire until Friday, in response to a peace plan by Kiev.
The rebels - who are continuing to hold a number of towns in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions - have not publicly commented on the claims by the Ukrainian military.
Before Tuesday, the rebels had shot down at least two Ukrainian army helicopters and a plane.
In a separate development on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin asked parliament to revoke the right of military intervention in Ukraine.
The move was aimed at "normalising the situation" in the eastern regions of Ukraine, Mr Putin's press-secretary said. The parliament authorised Mr Putin to use force in Ukraine on 1 March.