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This Article is From Apr 05, 2011

US condoles United Nations plane crash victims' families

US condoles United Nations plane crash victims' families
Washington: The United States has expressed condolences to the families of victims aboard a UN
plane that crashed en route to Congo.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life in the United Nations plane that crashed flying into Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

"We extend our most sincere condolences to the families of the victims, to the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Roger Meece and to the colleagues of the UN staff and humanitarian workers who tragically lost their lives today," he said.

Noting that the UN has and continues to play a critical role in helping the Congolese government bring peace and stability to the country, Toner said the tragedy underscores the risks that the UN personnel undertake worldwide.

"The United States strongly supports the UN in its mission and will continue to do so in this difficult time," he said.

32 out of the 33 UN personnel and crew members aboard the plane died in the crash yesterday, a UN official said.

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