Indonesia takes charge of Sukhoi crash probe

Jakarta, May 16 (IANS) The Indonesian government will take control of the investigation into the Sukhoi Superjet 100 crash that killed 45 people, and Russian teams will have their movements limited, an Indonesian official said.

There are three Russian teams -- one to help search for and evacuate victims and wreckage, one to help identify the victims and one to help investigate the accident.

The teams comprise 68 personnel including rescue and missions specialists and psychologists for the victims' relatives, RIA Novosti reported.

"All of these teams are under the coordination of relevant institutions of Indonesia," vice presidential spokesman Yopie Hidayat was quoted as saying by the Jakarta Post.

He said the Russian teams had not met with any difficulties in carrying out their tasks in Indonesia.

All 45 people on board the Superjet 100 were killed when the plane slammed into a steep side of Mount Salak near Jakarta shortly after take-off on a demonstration flight May 9.

A search operation for the victims' bodies continues despite difficult weather and terrain at the site of the crash. Indonesian aviation officials have said the investigation of the crash may take up to a year.