Fireman try to reach a crashed helicopter in Panama City May 29, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    PANAMA CITY, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Panamanian President Martin Torrijos Friday offered military honors to the general director of the Chilean police and other victims killed in a helicopter crash here a day earlier.

    Alejandro Bernales and another five Chilean policemen were killed when the helicopter crashed into a warehouse in a commercial area in the center of Panama City on Thursday.

    The Panamanian president expressed his condolences to Chile and reminded that Bernales had come to Panama on a cooperation mission.

    "Today Panama and Chile are in mourning. Yesterday's tragic accident has moved both countries and filled many families with pain," said Torrijos.

    Chilean President Michelle Bachelet sent her Defence Minister Jose Goni to Panama City to oversee the repatriation of the bodies of Chilean citizens.

    Goni said the death of Bernales was a deep pain for both countries and he believed that investigations would clarify the cause of the crash.

    Panamanian authorities have launched an investigation into the possible causes of the accident.

    Since November 2007, Bernales headed the American Police Community (Ameripol), a regional initiative focusing on the fight against drug trafficking.

Chilean police chief killed in helicopter crash in Panama

    PANAMA CITY, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The director general of the Chilean police Jose Alejandro Bernales was killed Thursday when a helicopter crashed into a building in the center of Panama City.  Full story

Helicopter crash in Panama leaves 12 dead, one survivor

    PANAMA CITY, May 29 (Xinhua) -- A helicopter crashed into a commercial building at about 2 p.m. local time Thursday in Panama City, killing 12 people and leaving only one survivor, the Panamanian Interior and Justice Ministry said Thursday. Full story

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