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Annan mourns international staff killed in plane crash after serving in Afghanistan

Annan mourns international staff killed in plane crash after serving in Afghanistan

Kofi Annan
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today paid tribute to the memory of scores of Spanish and a dozen Ukrainian personnel serving in Afghanistan who perished when their aircraft went down after leaving the mission area.

"It is with deep regret that the Secretary-General learned today of the tragic death of 62 Spanish troops returning from service with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, and 12 Ukrainian crewmembers, in a plane crash in northwest Turkey," a spokesman for Mr. Annan said in a statement released in New York.

The troops were returning "from having served with ISAF in the selfless contribution to the Afghan peace process," he added.

Through the statement, the Secretary-General also extended his condolences to the Governments of Spain and Ukraine and to the bereaved families.