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Laos Defence Minister Douangchay Phichit's plane crashes Laos Deputy PM Douangchay Phichit 'dies in plane crash'
(36 minutes later)
A military plane carrying Laos Defence Minister and Deputy PM Douangchay Phichit and other senior officials has crashed in the north of the country. Laos Defence Minister and Deputy PM Douangchay Phichit has reportedly been killed along with other senior officials in a military plane crash.
It is thought the aircraft came down in the province of Xiangkhouang, nearly 500km (311 miles) from the capital Vientiane where its journey began. The aircraft came down in the northern province of Xiangkhouang, nearly 500km (311 miles) from the capital Vientiane where its journey began.
Up to 20 people, including the defence minister's wife and the governor of Vientiane, were reportedly on board. The Laotian news agency and the Thai foreign ministry said the minister and his wife had died in the crash.
There are no confirmed reports of casualties. Up to 20 people were on board, including the governor of Vientiane.
But the defence ministry permanent secretary in neighbouring Thailand, Nipat Thonglek, said the Laos military had told him that five senior officials on board - including the defence minister - had been killed.
The officials are believed to have been travelling to an official ceremony in Xiangkhouang.The officials are believed to have been travelling to an official ceremony in Xiangkhouang.
The official Laos news agency KPL confirmed the crash, which it said involved an Antonov AN- 74TK-300 plane operated by the Laos air force. The official Laos news agency KPL said the plane that went down was an Antonov AN- 74TK-300 plane operated by the Laos air force.
It said the cause of the accident was under investigation but gave no firm information about the passengers or any casualties.
In October last year a civilian jet operated by Lao Airlines crashed into the Mekong River in bad weather, killing all 49 people on board.In October last year a civilian jet operated by Lao Airlines crashed into the Mekong River in bad weather, killing all 49 people on board.
Laos, a landlocked country of about seven million people, has an authoritarian communist one-party government and is one of Asia's poorest nations.Laos, a landlocked country of about seven million people, has an authoritarian communist one-party government and is one of Asia's poorest nations.
It has a poor air safety record. Last October a civilian airplane crashed into the Mekong river, killing all 49 people on board.It has a poor air safety record. Last October a civilian airplane crashed into the Mekong river, killing all 49 people on board.
In 1998, a Vietnamese military aircaraft crashed in Xiangkhouang. All passengers on board, including a senior Vietnamese general, were killed.In 1998, a Vietnamese military aircaraft crashed in Xiangkhouang. All passengers on board, including a senior Vietnamese general, were killed.