Sudan minister dies in plane crash
Khartoumn, 19 Aug - (ANA) -The Sudanese government's religion minister Ghazi al-Sadiq Abdel Rahim has been killed in a plane crash along with all the other 31 people on board, official media say. Two state ministers and the leader of a national political party were also among the dead. The civilian aircraft, which was also carrying several military officials, came down in the Nuba Mountains. It was on its way to South Kordofan for an Eid al-Fitr celebration, to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Apart from Guidance and Religious Endowments Minister Ghazi al-Sadiq Abdel Rahim, an official list of the dead included:
    Justice Party Chairman Makki Ali Balayil
    Mahjub Abdel Rahim Tutu, state minister at the Youth and Sports Ministry
    Issa Daifallah, state minister at the Ministry of Tourism, Antiquities and Wildlife
    Several ranking members of the security forces
    Several officials from Khartoum state
    Media representatives and six crew
The aircraft came down in the Talodi area of South Kordofan, en route from the capital Khartoum. The town of Talodi, some 50km (30 miles) from the border with South Sudan, lies on a plain, next to a range of hills. A television statement said the weather prevented the aircraft from landing at its first attempt. Second time round, the plane hit a mountain. An unnamed civil aviation representative told state radio the plane was an Antonov.(ANA)
FA/ANA/19 August 2012---------