ZAGREB, July 9 (Reuters) - Two people were killed on Monday when a Croatian military helicopter crashed, local media reported.

The Russian-made helicopter MI-8 crashed immediately after taking off from an army barracks in the eastern town of Vukovar, some 300 kilometres (186 miles) east of the capital Zagreb.

"The chopper MI-8 fell on the ground from some 40 metres (131 ft) immediately after take-off. Seven people were on board," the defence ministry said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear what caused the crash, the statement said.

State television said that 10 people, including three on the ground, were injured in the accident and two of them died soon afterwards. Two more people suffered life-threatening injuries.

Those killed have not yet been named.

The ministry said among those who suffered light injuries was Deputy Chief of Staff Slavko Baric.

Croatia hopes to earn an invitation to join the NATO military alliance next year while its army tries to modernise military equipment much of which dates back to the communist era.

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