This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7709877.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Mexico minister killed in crash | Mexico minister killed in crash |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Mexican Interior Minister Juan Camilo Mourino has been killed along with seven others in a plane crash in central Mexico City, reports say. | Mexican Interior Minister Juan Camilo Mourino has been killed along with seven others in a plane crash in central Mexico City, reports say. |
| The small plane burst into flames as it came down during rush-hour in the heart of the capital's financial district around 1900 local time (0000 GMT). | The small plane burst into flames as it came down during rush-hour in the heart of the capital's financial district around 1900 local time (0000 GMT). |
| Correspondents describe Mr Mourino, who was 37, as a rising political star. | |
| Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said no-one on board could possibly have survived the crash. | |
| "It's a fact. There is no other possibility," he told reporters at the site. | "It's a fact. There is no other possibility," he told reporters at the site. |
| Transport Minister Luis Tellez said a former assistant attorney general, Jose Luis Santiago Vasconcelos, had also died in the crash. | Transport Minister Luis Tellez said a former assistant attorney general, Jose Luis Santiago Vasconcelos, had also died in the crash. |
| The cause of the incident remains unknown. | The cause of the incident remains unknown. |
| 'Enormous explosion' | 'Enormous explosion' |
| Mr Ebrard said 40 people were injured and a number of cars destroyed by flames from the plane.Firemen battled to bring flames at the crash-site under control | Mr Ebrard said 40 people were injured and a number of cars destroyed by flames from the plane.Firemen battled to bring flames at the crash-site under control |
| "The explosion was enormous," an eye-witness told AFP news agency. | "The explosion was enormous," an eye-witness told AFP news agency. |
| "The flames reached higher than the buildings on La Reforma", the witness added, referring to the main street in the city's financial district. | "The flames reached higher than the buildings on La Reforma", the witness added, referring to the main street in the city's financial district. |
| Police, fire and ambulances attended the crash scene, and the fire has since been brought under control. | Police, fire and ambulances attended the crash scene, and the fire has since been brought under control. |
| Mr Mourino was in charge of security during the government's violent battle with powerful drug cartels. About 3,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence since the start of the year. | |
| Correspondents say he has come under recent pressure over allegations he acted improperly by signing government contracts on behalf of his family's gasoline business while in office. | |
| Mr Mourino, a close ally of Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, had denied any wrongdoing. | Mr Mourino, a close ally of Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, had denied any wrongdoing. |