1 Jun 2002

Authorities give up search for missing plane

3:20 am on 1 June 2002

Authorities in French Polynesia have abandoned a search for a light aircraft with five people aboard which disappeared a week ago.

The plane took off from Kaukura atoll and failed to arrive as scheduled in Makemo in the Tuamotu archipelago.

The four passengers on the plane included the president of the the pro-autonomy Fetia Api Party, Boris Leontieff

Two other members of the party were also on the plane together with a politician from the Marqueses islands.