BAGHDAD.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A U Marine AH-1 Cobra helicopter crashed Saturday and its sum of two units crew members were missing in Anbar province, an area west of the capital where insurgents are active. Hostile fire was not suspected as the cause, the U military said.

Authorities also said Saturday that an Iraqi tennis coach and sum of two units of his players were discharge to death last week in Baghdad because they were wearing shorts.

The Marine helicopter went down while onward a maintenance test flight, and search and recapture efforts were under way for the missing gang members, the U.S. command said in a statement.

MEN missile FOR WEARING SHORTS

The U military also reported that a Marine was killed Friday by way of "enemy action" in Anbar province. The death raised to at least 2466 the number of U military personnel who have died since the Iraq war started in March 2003 an Associated Pres consider shows.

In the Baghdad incident, gunmen stopped a car carrying the Sunni Arab coach and sum of two units Shiite players, asked them to stair out and then shot them, said Manham Kubba secretary-general of the Iraqi Tennis Union.

Extremists had distributed leaflets warning clan not to wear shorts, police said.

Partial pullout by way of fall?

Meanwhile, a U military official said American-led coalition forces could start transferring security govern over some Iraqi provinces to civilian authorities and police by way of fall.

Baghdad will not be handed through before the end of the year, said the official, who spoke forward condition of anonymity.

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