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Brazilian presidential candidate Eduardo Campos killed in plane crash Brazilian presidential candidate Eduardo Campos killed in plane crash
(35 minutes later)
Brazilian presidential candidate Eduardo Campos was killed in a plane crash on Wednesday, local television channel GloboNews reported, throwing the country's October election into disarray. Brazilian presidential candidate Eduardo Campos was killed in a plane crash on Wednesday, said local officials, throwing the country's October election into disarray.
Campos's private jet crashed in bad weather in the coastal city of Santos, just south of São Paulo, as it was preparing to land. Television images showed smoke billowing from the crash site in a residential area. Campos's private jet crashed in bad weather in the coastal city of Santos, just south of São Paulo, as it was preparing to land.
GloboNews said Campos, the Brazilian Socialist party (PSB) leader who was running third in opinion polls, died in the crash, without citing a source. A source in the PSB confirmed Campos was on the plane, but Reuters was not able to immediately confirm his death. All seven people aboard the plane, including a campaign photographer and press adviser, as well as two pilots, died in the crash, City Hall press officer Patricia Fagueiro told the Associated Press. Images from the scene show smoke rising from a building and crowds with umbrellas watching as firemen entered the site.
Five people were rushed to a local hospital from the crash site, but a hospital official could not provide any names or information on their condition. GloboNews said seven people were on board the plane. Campos, 49, had the support of about 10% of voters in recent polls. The Brazilian Congress said it would suspend working to mourn the death. "This is sad news for all Brazilians," federal deputy Izalci Ferreira told reporters.
Campos, 49, had the support of about 10% of voters in recent polls. His death, if confirmed, will likely lead the two other leading candidates, the president, Dilma Rousseff and senator, Aécio Neves, to pause their presidential campaigns for a period of mourning just as the runup to the 5 October election was starting to capture the public's full attention. The two other leading candidates in the October election - president Dilma Rousseff and senator Aécio Neves - are expected to suspend their campaigns temporarily.
"He was one of the most talented public men of his generation. The whole country will be in mourning," said Vital do Rego, the president of the joint parliamentary committee of inquiry."
Rousseff is leading in polls with about 36% of voter support. Neves has enjoyed about 20% in polls and was widely expected to face Rousseff in a second-round runoff.Rousseff is leading in polls with about 36% of voter support. Neves has enjoyed about 20% in polls and was widely expected to face Rousseff in a second-round runoff.
Campos, a former governor of northeastern Pernambuco state, was running as a business-friendly leftist and had strong support from many banks and industrial groups. His death could see Marina Silva, his running mate, become the Brazilian Socialist Party's candidate. Campos, a former governor of northeastern Pernambuco state, was running as a business-friendly leftist and had strong support from many banks and industrial groups.
Silva was not aboard the plane that crashed, the PSB source told Reuters. She placed a strong third in the 2010 presidential election and enjoys robust support from young voters and evangelical voters, but her pro-environment agenda means that many in Brazil's powerful agribusiness sector distrust her. ADDCampos's vice-presidential running mate, Marina Silva, heard the news as she was recording a TV programme and immediately left the studio.
Her political party, the Sustainability Network said on Twitter that she was on her way to Santos. "We are all shocked by the death of Eduardo Campos in the plane crash this morning," it said.
Other members of the campaign were on their way to the site.
"We're stunned. It seems that there are no survivors...An irreparable loss," Representative Julio Delgado told local media.END ADD
Silva came third in the 2010 presidential election and enjoys robust support from young voters and evangelical voters, but her pro-environment agenda means that many in Brazil's powerful agribusiness sector distrust her.
Brazil's main stock index lost as much as 2% following initial reports that Campos was on the crashed plane, but later pared losses to just over 1%. The currency also lost ground.Brazil's main stock index lost as much as 2% following initial reports that Campos was on the crashed plane, but later pared losses to just over 1%. The currency also lost ground.
A police official in Santos said there were "certainly" fatalities in the crash, but could not say how many or provide any additional information.