Ecuadorian Defense Minister Guadalupe Larriva on Wednesday night died in an air crash, due to the mid-air collision of two military helicopters, officials said.

 

"The minister, her daughter and five officials of the Ecuadorian Army were killed in the accident," Interior Minister Gustavo Larrea told reporters.

 

The 50-year-old Larriva, the South American country's first female defense minister, was in one of the helicopters when the accident occurred at about 9:00 PM on Wednesday (0200 GMT Thursday) near the military base in Manta, some 260 km southeast of the capital Quito.

 

According to the official reports, the accident took place as the two helicopters were conducting a night military exercise near the base. The blades collided and the two aircrafts crashed in mid-air.

 

No senior military officers were killed in the accident, reports added.

 

Larriva was appointed by President Rafael Correa and took office on January 15.

 

Correa arrived at the scene and expressed his condolences.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 25, 2007)