FIVE DIE, 25 HURT IN BOLIVIA MILITARY PLANE CRASH

LA PAZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - A Bolivian Air Force plane crashed on
take-off from an anti-drug base late Friday, killing five people and
injuring 25, officials said.

The aircraft, a Hercules C-130 cargo plane, ``was in the process of
taking off en route to Santa Cruz ... and for some irregularity not
yet established it went off the runway 300 yards to the left and was
completely destroyed,'' the Air Force said in a statement.

The accident occurred at the Chimoree airfield in the central coca
leaf producing region of Chapare. Coca leaf is the base ingredient for
the manufacture of cocaine.

The Chimoree airfield is operated under the control of the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Agency.