United Nations: Eleven people have died when
a UN surveillance plane crashed in eastern Haiti near the
border with the Dominican Republic, a UN spokeswoman said.
Vannina Maestracci, quoting sources in the UN mission in
Haiti (MINUSTAH), said there were no survivors among the 11
passengers and crew -- aboard the CASA 212 plane belonging to
the Uruguayan contingent of MINUSTAH.
She told reporters at UN headquarters that the casualties
were Uruguayan and Jordanian but could not give a breakdown.
"The cause of the crash is unknown but an investigation
has begun," Maestracci added. "The plane was on a routine
surveillance mission along the border with the Dominican
Republic."
The plane plunged as it approached the municipality of
Ganthier, police officer Cadostin Marc-Andre said, noting
the bodies were found at the crash site.
Most of the plane`s occupants were military officers he
added.
The Brazilian-led MINUSTAH has been deployed in the
impoverished Caribbean nations of eight million people since
mid-2004.
The mission fields 9,123 uniformed personnel -- 7,057
troops and 2,066 police.
Bureau Report
