Nairobi/Khartoum  - A plane crash which killed a minister and other politicians in southern Sudan Friday was caused by a technical fault, southern Sudanese President Salva Kir said Saturday.

"Two engines failed and there was nothing the pilot could do," Kir told the BBC. Defence Minister Dominic Dim Deng had been flying with a military delegation to the regional capital, Juba. Presidential adviser Justin Yak was also killed.

The Beechcraft 1900 of South Sudan Air Connection had been flying from Wau to Juba when the pilot sought permission for an emergency landing in Rumbek after reporting engine trouble.

All 23 people on board were killed. Earlier reports that 26 were aboard were revised.

In July 2005, the Sudanese vice-president and founder of the SPLA John Garang died in a helicopter crash. Southern Sudan has had an autonomous government since
2005 and after years of war against the central government in Khartoum. (dpa)