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Nigerian Airliner Crashes Near Abuja, More Than 100 People Aboard
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&c=667750&l=1009&ctl=149C87C:A6F02AD83191E1606A3564C753327BB99574F7DCC14957C0 The flight was
heading to the northern state of Sokoto The spiritual leader of
Nigeria's Muslims is among the dead in the crash of a Nigerian
airliner that was carrying more than one hundred people. 

The plane hit the ground and burst into flames shortly after take-off
from the capital, Abuja, Sunday.

Reporters at the crash site saw charred bodies amid the smoldering
wreckage.

Nigerian media report that four or five people survived the crash.

The plane was owned by the Nigerian airline ADC (Aviation Development
Corporation).  It was a flight to the northern state of Sokoto.

Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo expressed condolences and has
ordered a full investigation.

The confirmed dead include the Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammadu Macchido,
who is the spiritual leader of Nigeria's Muslims.

About half of Nigeria's 130 million people are Muslims.

Other dignitaries on the doomed plane included the sultan's son who is
a state senator, the deputy governor of Sokoto, and a son of former
President Shehu Shagari.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.


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