All 118 people on an Iranian airliner which crashed in snow-covered mountains have died.
Rescuers have so far been unable to reach the wreckage of the plane, which crashed in mountains near Khorramabad in the west of the country.
The Iranian Civil Aviation Organisation said all 118 on board the jetliner had died, state television reports.
A statement said search teams had so far been unable to reach the crash site because of heavy snow. Iranian television reports the plane crashed into the Sefid Kouh mountains, 15 miles west of Khorramabad.
By mid-day, dozens of relatives of the passengers had gathered at Tehran Mehrabad Airport, weeping as they seek information on the fate of loved ones.
The television also reported that President Mr Mohammad Khatami has ordered an emergency committee to be formed to investigate the crash. It added that a team of experts from the Transportation Ministry has also been sent to Khorramabad.
The Russian-made Tupolev Tu-154, owned by state-owned Iran Air Tours, left Tehran at 7.30 a.m. heading for Khorramabad, about 230 miles south-west of the capital. Minutes before crashing, the plane lost contact with the control tower at Khorramabad airport, it was reported.
PA
