A presidential adviser was killed and finance minister injured in a plane crash which occurred in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, a statement from the government said.Finance Minister Matata Ponyo Mapon was seriously injured in the accident, which happened near Bukavu, the provincial capital of South Kivu. The government did not release the total casualties, although its statement indicated that they might involve several central and local government officials. A provincial official, who declined to be named, told Xinhua that the plane owned by former lawmaker Katumba Mwake crashed at the airport of Kavumu. Mwake and South Kivu Governor Marcelin Cishambo were also on board.Presidential adviser Augustin Katumba Mwanke and one of the co- pilots were killed, the official said, adding Governor Cishambo was taken to hospital after the crash, in which most of the dozen or so passengers survived. The accident comes barely two weeks since an Antonov 28 plane with five persons on board crashed in the forest in the eastern province of Maniema on Jan. 30 injuring three people.
