Kabul, Ramadan 6, 1432, Aug 6, 2011, SPA - Militants in eastern Afghanistan shot down a US helicopter, killing 31 Special Forces soldiers on board, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said in a statement on Saturday. He also said seven Afghan soldiers were killed in the crash, according to a report quoted by the German Press Agency "DPA". "The helicopter crashed Friday night in Maidan Wardak province and as result of the crash, 31 soldiers with US Special Forces, including crew members were killed," Karzai said in a statement. Karzai paid his "deep sympathies and condolences" to US President Barak Obama and the families of victims in the statement released by the presidential palace. Shahidullah Shahid, spokesman for the provincial governor in Maidan Wardak, said the chopper crashed in Seyad Abad district. --SPA 13:37 LOCAL TIME 10:37 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/916154