Kabul  - US military spokesmen confirmed that Taliban rebels shot down a US helicopter in central Afghanistan Monday.

The helicopter crew engaged with Taliban fighters on the ground in Wardak province, about 50 kilometres west of Kabul city, US military spokesman Major Johan Redfield told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

He said the chopper was hit by "enemy fire" but none of the 10-member crew was killed.

The engagement was still ongoing, Redfield said, but he declined to provide any details, including whether the soldiers suffered injuries.

A Taliban spokesman in the area, Ahmad Baheer, said their forces shot down the helicopter with rocket-propelled grenade, killing all aboard.

He said their fighters had surrounded Afghan and international forces in the area.

Wardak province has been the scene for heavily Taliban activities since the beginning this year. Afghan officials have admitted that the militants had consolidated their positions in the province and were edging closer toward the capital city. (dpa)