Amsterdam - Dutch authorities Thursday released the list of nationalities of the passengers on the Turkish Airlines plane that crashed just short of Schiphol Airport the day before.

The Boeing 737-800 was carrying 53 Dutch and 51 Turkish nationals, as well as a number of from such other countries as Italy, Germany and Taiwan, said Theo Wetering, mayor of the Haarlemmermeer municipality, at a press conference at the airport.

The nationality of 15 people was still not known, he said.

Ankara - The United states on Thursday welcomed Turkey's commitment to peace in the Middle East saying that the country had a "unique role" to play in the region said George Mitchell, the US special envoy for the Middle East.

"Turkey is a crucial ally of the United States and an important force for the peace and security in the Middle East," Mitchell said in Ankara after talks with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Amsterdam  - At least nine people were killed and more than 80 injured, 31 of them seriously, when a Turkish Airlines plane crashed near Schiphol airport just before landing on Wednesday.

Flight TK 1951 had 134 people on board, comprising 127 passengers and seven crew, and crashed on its approach to the airport at 10.31 am (0931), a press conference at the airport was told.

Three of the dead were the pilot, co-pilot and a trainee pilot of the Boeing 737-800, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed later in Ankara.

Amsterdam - One of the survivors of the Turkish Airlines c

Istanbul - Turkish Airlines and Transportation Minister Binal

Ankara  - Israeli prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu should recognize Palestine as a state if Israel genuinely wants lasting peace in the Middle East, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday night.

Keeping up his fierce criticism of Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip, Erdogan said the only solution to the problem is for Hamas to be brought to the negotiating table.