BERLIN, March 3, 2008 (AFP) - A helicopter crashed Sunday in Antarctica near the German research station Neumayer II killing two passengers and injuring three, it was announced here.

'We regret the deaths of the helicopter's pilot and a researcher,' Minister of Research Annette Schavan said in Berlin.

The injured were out of danger and being looked after in the medical bay of the vessel Polarstern.

They were to be evacuated as soon as possible to South Africa, but not before Wednesday given poor weather forecasts, the minister said.

Causes of the accident were not immediately known. The weather was good at the time of the crash.