Four killed as police helicopter crashes in France: police

Four members of France's paramilitary police were killed today when a helicopter crashed in a mountainous area of southwest France Friday, the force said.

The helicopter crashed into a cliff face in the area around Cauterets, killing all four people aboard, the force said.

The reason for the crash is not yet known.

In a confused initial picture, figures for the number of dead changed several times, but officials said it has now been established that the pilot, co-pilot and two rescue specialists on board were killed.