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Laos plane crash kills government officials

Seventeen high-ranking Laos governmental officials killed in plane crash Saturday.

By Danielle Haynes

PHONSAVAN, Laos, May 17 (UPI) -- A plane crash in Laos killed 17 high-ranking officials, including the country's National Assembly president and defense minister, a Thai official said.

The Ukrainian-made AN-74 aircraft crashed Saturday in Xiangkhouang province.

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Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. Douangchay Phichit and his wife reportedly died in the crash, as well as National Assembly President Pany Yathotou.

Among the dead were also the minister of public security, the mayor of Vientiane and a regional governor.

The group was traveling to Xiangkhouang to take part in the memorial of a historic battle.

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