A Russian-made plane carrying 48 people went missing in Equatorial Guinea on Saturday, the country's information minister said, adding those on board were feared dead. The Antonov, owned by local company Equatair, was on an internal flight between the capital Malabo on Bioko island and the city of Bata on the mainland, he said. "It has disappeared. There are rumours that it crashed in the sea but we can't confirm that yet, even though we think that there are casualties," Information Minister Alfonso Nsue Mokuy told Reuters by phone. He said the 48 on board included the crew but had no more details. Local radio said military aircraft were searching for the plane. --SP 2230 Local Time 1930 GMT
