Malabo: A plane carrying leaders of Equatorial Guinea's ruling party, including government ministers, crashed at sea today, airport sources said, without stating whether there were any casualties.

The defence ministry aircraft, an Antonov-24,was carrying members of the ruling party to Annobon island to open a campaign on Friday, for the May 4 Parliamentary election, the sources said. But it plunged into the sea while trying to land.

The precise number and identity of those on board was not known.

But the Soviet-era plane, which can carry up to 48 passengers, had been assigned to carry top officials of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema s Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) to Annobon from the African mainland.

Airport sources said the passengers included ministers, former members of government, lawmakers and senior officials from Annobon.

Annobon is a remote island about 700 kms southwest of the tropical African country's capital Malabo, which is itself on an island, Bioko, while Annobon lies about 350 kms from the coast of Gabon.

The plane had flown from Equatorial Guinea's economic capital, Bata, which is on the continental African part of the former Spanish colony, made up mostly of dense tropical rain forest.

All aircraft certified by Equatorial Guinea's authorities are blacklisted by the European Union and banned from its airspace on safety grounds.

Source : PTI