Military

A U.S. military helicopter believed to be carrying 12 Americans has crashed in northern Iraq, killing everyone on board.

The U.S. military says the Blackhawk helicopter crashed east of Tal Afar in a sparsely populated area. It says the crash is under investigation. Military personnel found the crash site Sunday - about 12 hours after losing communication with the helicopter.

In separate incidents, the U.S. military says five Marines were killed in insurgent attacks Sunday and Saturday.

Meanwhile, French and Iraqi officials say a French engineer, Bernard Planche, kidnapped last month in Baghdad has been freed.

On the political front, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani says leaders of the country's political parties have agreed in principle to form a national unity government.