KINSHASA, Nov. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- All 22 Congolese passengers and the crew were killed in a plane crash in northwestern Congo shortly after take-off on Saturday, local radio reported on Sundaymorning.

    Congolese Minister of Information Vital Kamerhe was quoted as saying that the plane was crashed on Saturday near the town of Boende, more than 600 km northeast of Kinshasa. The cause of the crash was unknown.

    "The passengers were Congolese. The crew included Congolese," he said, adding he did not know who owned the plane.

    Kamerhe said a team of experts would be sent to Boende on Sunday to search for the plane's black box. Enditem

Plane crashes in DR Congo, killing at least 22

    KINSHASA, Nov. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- An Antonov-26 plane crashed shortly after take-off on Saturday in the northwestern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), killing all 22 passengers and all the crew members.

    Officials said the plane crashed near the town of Boende, more than 600 km northeast of the capital of Kinshasa, adding that a team of experts will be sent to Boende on Sunday to search for the plane's black box.

    According to the officials, it was unknown how many crew members were on the plane.

    A series of accidents has recently struck the war-torn DRC's transport system. On Tuesday, over 160 people drowned when a ferrysank during a storm on Lake Mai-Ndombe, northeast of Kinshasa.

    On Saturday, 18 people were killed or injured when a small truck lost control near the eastern town of Goma. Enditem