ISLAMABAD, May 18 (Xinhuanet) -- An unmanned United States spy plane crashed in the early hours of Saturday in southern Pakistan, near a military base being used by U.S. forces, police officers were quoted by local media reports as saying.

"It lost control at 3:30 a.m. (2030 GMT) and crashed 26 kilometers east of Jacobabad in a place called Dilmurad," said a police officer in Jacobabad.

Witnesses said the aircraft fell on farmland in Behram Khoso village, and there was no loss of life or property damage.

The U.S. military did not immediately comment on the incident.

Pakistan said the U.S. troops stationed in the country are actually logistical support forces to the war in neighboring Afghanistan.

At least five unmanned U.S. Predator spy planes used in the war in Afghanistan have crashed since the anti-terror war began on October 7, in response to the September 11 terror attacks in the United States. The U.S. military denied that they were fired upon.

The Predator aircraft, a long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle system, was designed by the U.S. Air Force to fly at medium- altitude of around 7,620 meters, to fire on potential surface targets or survey movement of troops or materials.

The plane weighs 431 kilograms gross, and is equipped with electronic sensors, video cameras and satellite transmitters, and its flight is controlled from the ground via the use of a so- called color nose camera.

Xinhau

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