Pacific

French Polynesian tribunal declares plane crash passengers officially dead

09:33 am on 18 January 2003

A tribunal in French Polynesia has officially declared dead four prominent politicians travelling in a small commuter plane which disappeared in May last year.

The victims of what is now believed to be a crash included MPs, Boris Leontieff, who was also Mayor of Arue in Tahiti and Lucien Kimite, who was also Mayor of Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas.

The announcement clears the way for by-elections in the two municipalities at a date yet to be decided.