SECRETARY-GENERAL EXPRESSES PROFOUND SORROW

AT NEWS OF RUSSIAN PLANE CRASH

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General has learned with profound sorrow the tragic news of the crash of a Russian passenger plane earlier today en route from Tel Aviv to Novosibirsk in Siberia, carrying mainly Israeli citizens.  He extends his sincere condolences to the Governments and peoples of Israel and the Russian Federation, as well as to the families of the victims of this tragedy.

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