US says a spy plane is lost - reports

There are reports that the US has admitted losing an unmanned spy plane over Afghanistan.

BBC News 24 says US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has confirmed it is missing.

Taliban forces yesterday claimed to have shot down an unmanned spy plane in northern Afghanistan.

Abdul Salam Zaeef, the Taliban's ambassador to Pakistan, said the aircraft was shot down over Tashgurgan Pass in Samangan province.

He said it was targeted by Taliban soldiers armed with Russian-made anti-aircraft weapons.

Earlier yesterday, Sky News reported Taliban officials had said the craft they shot down was a helicopter belonging to the opposing Northern Alliance.