Crash kills Venezuela air force chief

The crash came days after the president was reinstated

The newly appointed head of the Venezuelan air force, General Luis Acevedo, has been killed with several other officers in a helicopter crash.

The accident, which occurred late on Friday in mountains to the north-east of the capital, Caracas, has been blamed on bad weather.

General Acevedo was promoted just days ago as Hugo Chavez resumed the presidency of Venezuela, following a failed coup that removed him from power for two days.

The general had been returning to Caracas from a ceremony at a naval academy when the Super Puma helicopter crashed and burst into flames.

Military coup

Another helicopter carrying armed forces chief General Lucas Rincon was caught in the same bad weather and had to make an emergency landing.

General Rincon said he and all the other passengers on board were safe.

Three other generals travelling with General Acevedo were killed in the crash. Generals Pedro Torres Finol, Julio Ochoa and Rafael Quintana were all were members of the air force's newly reorganised high command.

The fire brigade, civil defence and the National Guard reached the scene early on Saturday and began to identify the bodies.

Just over a week ago a group of Venezuelan military officers launched a failed coup against the president.

The coup leaders toppled Mr Chavez after 17 people were killed in a massive protest march against his rule, but he was reinstated two days later as loyalist officers rebelled and civilian supporters took to the streets.