Military plane missing in Irian Jaya

The plane vanished in bad weather

An Indonesian military aircraft carrying top-ranking security personnel has disappeared over the troubled Irian Jaya province.

The 10 people on board include Irian Jaya's military commander and his police counterpart.

The plane was flying from the mining town of Timika to the provincial capital, Jayapura, when air traffic controllers lost contact.

Irian Jaya's governor should also have been among the passengers but he changed planes at the last moment.

A search-and-rescue operation is under way in the province, where separatist rebels have been active for many years.

The route from Timika to Jayapura crosses some of Indonesia's most remote jungle and mountainous areas.

Several planes and helicopters are searching the region and two navy warships are looking for the missing aircraft along the coast.

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Irian Jaya, Indonesia's most easterly province, forms the western half of New Guinea island and is rich in natural resources.

Jakarta has cracked down on separatists

Separatists have been struggling for independence ever since Indonesia took control of the former Dutch colony in 1963.

Jakarta has ruled out granting the region independence, but has promised greater autonomy.

Troops and police in Irian Jaya have recently taken tough action against the independence movement.

But there is no suggestion at the moment that the loss of the plane is connected with the separatist conflict.