Australia to assist W Africa plane search

Sydney, 21 Jun-(ANA)-Australia has vowed to leave "no stone unturned" in its efforts to find a group of mining executives whose plane went missing in West Africa.

The plane, carrying nine passengers, disappeared on Saturday while flying from Cameroon to Republic of Congo.

One of Australia's richest men, Ken Talbot, is amongst the missing.

The group left the Cameroonian capital Yaounde to visit iron ore projects in Yangadou, a remote area of Congo.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has pledged consular and diplomatic assistance to the search efforts.

"This is deeply concerning to all of us," he said.

"We will leave literally no stone unturned in our efforts to try and help what is a concerning set of developments for these families."

Australia's High Commissioner to Nigeria was travelling to Cameroon along with two other officials, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said.

Cameroon's government has said that, aside from six Australians, two British, two French and one American were also onboard the aircraft.

Cameroon's military is leading a ground and air search over dense forest.

Aviation officials say they lost contact with the aircraft one hour after it left Yaounde.(ANA)

FA/ANA/21 June 2010----------