Leaders around the world have voiced condolences after a plane crash in Madrid left at least 153 people dead Wednesday.
The Spanish authorities announced Wednesday that the Spanish national flag at Beijing's Olympic village will be flown at a half-mast Thursday to mourn the victims of the accident, the worst one in Europe in 10 years.
Alejandro Blanco Bravo, president of the Spanish Olympic Committee, has applied to the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee to let Spanish athletes observe a one-minute silence for the dead prior to their matches.
In Caracas, the office of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez issued a press release, saying that "at this terrible moment, we manifest our feelings of solidarity and brotherhood to the relatives and close friends of the victims of such a regrettable accident."
Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana Wednesday called his Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos, saying the Argentine government was conveying "deep sorrow" to Spain.
In Mexico, President Felipe Calderon also joined the voices to mourn the casualties.
Noting that he "deeply regretted" the tragic accident, Calderon said, "I transmit my deepest condolence and my sympathy to the families of the victims, to the Spanish people and government."
Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva sent a message to Spanish King Juan Carlos, calling the accident a "tragic aerial disaster."
"In this moment of great pain I want to present to your Majesty, in the name of the Portuguese people and myself, our deepest condolences and sympathies," the president said.
At least 153 people died and only 20 survived Wednesday after a 15-year-old MD-82 plane of Spanair crashed on takeoff and burst into flames at Madrid's Barajas airport at 2:45 PM local time (1245 GMT).
The airplane was totally destroyed and most of the dead were burned beyond recognition.
Most of the passengers were tourists and some were foreigners, and many children were among the dead, according to the Spanish authorities and Spanair.
Firefighters had worked for two hours to bring the fire under control, and the survivors were taken to hospitals by ambulances and helicopters.
Development Minister Magdalena Alvarez said the cause of the accident was under investigation.
(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2008)
