The United States offered its
condolences Sunday after a Lao military plane crash that killed five senior
officials on board, including the defense minister of the secretive communist
nation.
The group was believed to be traveling to an official ceremony in the
northeastern province of Xiangkhouang on an air force jet manufactured by
Ukraine's Antonov.
The foreign ministry in Bangkok said about 20 people were on board.
US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recalled hosting Defense Minister
Douangchay Phichit and his wife at the US-ASEAN defense forum last month in
Hawaii.
"I appreciated the opportunity to work with the minister to help advance
our two countries' emerging defense relationship, and to strengthen the
US-ASEAN partnership," he added.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, the families of those lost
and the people of Laos."
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said US officials were "deeply
saddened" by the crash.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the government of Laos," she added.
Official Lao news agency KPL said authorities were trying to rescue
survivors.