Reports from BBC World

Mexico minister dies in air crash

The man leading the fight against the Mexican drug trade, Public security Minister Ramon Martin Huerta, has been killed in a helicopter crash.

He was among 9 people who dies when their aircraft went down in mountains near Mexico City, President Vicente Fox has confirmed.

The head of the federal police was also among the dead.

Mr Huerta, a close friend of Mr Fox, was on his way to visit a top security jail when the crash happened.

The helicopter disappeared from radar screens on Wednesday, after the pilot reported an emergency.

Rescue crews trying locate the aircraft were initially hampered by poor weather.

But the wreckage was eventually found near a village west of the capital.

"They are heroes who lost their lives in the line of duty," President Fox said of the nine victims.

Mr Huerta had been leading efforts to stop a wave of drug-related violence that has killed hundreds of people this year.

[Edited 2005-09-22 03:36:54]