From ABCThursday, March 8, 2007. 9:58pm (AEDT)Paladin says only...

From ABC

Thursday, March 8, 2007. 9:58pm (AEDT)
Paladin says only two aboard crashed plane
The Australian mining firm Paladin says only two people were on board one of their chartered planes that crashed in the southern African nation of Malawi.

Paladin says the plane's pilot and one staff member have died in the crash.

It contradicts earlier claims by local police that nine people were on board.

Malawi's civil aviation authority has also put the number of people on the plane at two.

Paladin says it will seek an open and thorough investigation into the crash.

A spokeswoman from the Department of Foreign Affairs says the Government has activated its consular response centre in Canberra to coordinate an investigation.

Only last week Paladin signed a deal with the Malawi Government for it to begin mining uranium in the country's north.

Operations are expected to begin next year