Bodies of German troops killed in Bosnia sent home

Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina: The bodies of two German peacekeepers killed in a helicopter crash in Bosnia were transported from Sarajevo to their homeland on Tuesday.

The EU peacekeeping helicopter, which belonged to the Spanish military, crashed on Thursday in mountains near the north-central city of Banja Luka, killing the two Germans and two Spanish servicemen.

The Spanish army victims were identified as Lt Santiago Hormigo Ledesma and Sgt Joaquin Lopez Moreno, and they were transported to Spain on Friday. The names of the Germans have not been released.

Following a short ceremony, in the presence of the German ambassador to Bosnia and EU peacekeeping force officials, the bodies were loaded on a C-130 military transport plane will carry them back to Germany.

A German general placed medals on the coffins. The C-130 left Bosnia at 6am (0400 GMT).