An Arabic television channel aired a videotape on Monday purporting to show insurgents firing a missile that downed a British transport plane in Iraq, and London said 10 people were missing, believed dead. The video, issued by the 1920 Revolution Brigades, showed a mid-air explosion at a distance then burning debris of what looked like a plane, including an engine, on the ground and filmed at close range in a large field.

Leading Arabic broadcaster Al Jazeera said it had received a copy of the tape from the group, which has claimed responsibility for some attacks and kidnappings in the past.

The group, whose name refers to Iraq's fight against British rule, has often released videos of attacks on US troops on the leading Arabic broadcaster.

Confirming Britain's biggest loss of life since the US-led invasion of Iraq, British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said nine Royal Air Force personnel and one soldier were "missing, believed killed" in Sunday's election day crash.

Copyright Reuters, 2005