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Mexico minister killed in crash Mexico minister killed in crash
(about 2 hours 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 when his ministry plane crashed in central Mexico City.
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 Learjet burst into flames as it came down during rush-hour in the heart of the capital's financial district at around 1900 local time (0000 GMT).
A former assistant attorney general, Jose Luis Santiago, and other senior advisers were also killed in the crash.
Correspondents describe Mr Mourino, who was 37, as a rising political star.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. President Felipe Calderon paid tribute to the minister, whom he called "one of my closest collaborators and one of my best and closest friends".
"It's a fact. There is no other possibility," he told reporters at the site. The cause of the crash remains unknown, and Mr Calderon said his government would "carry out all necessary investigations to find out the causes of the tragedy".
Transport Minister Luis Tellez said a former assistant attorney general, Jose Luis Santiago Vasconcelos, had also died in the crash. Officials say they have not detected any signs of foul play, and the crash appears to have been an accident.
The cause of the incident remains unknown. But Mr Mourino had been in charge of security during the government's violent battle with powerful drug cartels, and his death is a big blow to the government, says BBC Americas analyst Warren Bull.
About 3,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence since the start of the year, and the country's kidnapping rates are among the highest in the world.
'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 The interior ministry officials had been returning to Mexico City from an event in the city of San Luis Potosi when the plane went down.
Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said the crash had killed all those on board.
He added that more people may have died on the ground as a number of cars were destroyed when the plane crashed.Many cars were set alight as the plane crashed in the heart of the capital
"It's likely that we will find other bodies in the vehicles," Mr Ebrard told Mexican television.
At least 40 people were admitted to hospital with injuries.
"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 and ambulances attended the crash scene as firemen battled to bring the blaze 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 Mr Mourino had come under recent pressure over allegations he had acted improperly by signing government contracts on behalf of his family's gasoline business while in office.
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 denied any wrongdoing.
Mr Mourino, a close ally of Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, had denied any wrongdoing. Mr Santiago, who had previously been in charge of pursuing extraditions against drug smugglers, had reportedly been the target of at least one planned assassination attempt.