Special Report: Indonesian passenger plane missing

    JAKARTA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government has established a national team for transportation safety and security days after a passenger plane went missing and was believed to have crashed around Sulawesi island, a spokesman said Friday.

    The team was formed on a presidential decree signed Thursday, Andi Mallarangeng, spokesman for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, told reporters here Friday.

    "The decree was issued because there have been many transportation accidents across the country in the last five years," he said.

    The team is tasked to investigate accidents, evaluate thoroughly the transport safety procedures and review the existing regulations on transportation, he said.

    Headed by former air force chief Chappy Hakim, the team is directly under the president, he said.

    In addition to the missing Boeing 737-400 with 102 people on board, two ferries overturned and sank in the Indonesian waters earlier this month, leaving more than 300 people dead or missing.