The body of Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski and eight others killed in an air crash in Bosnia have been recovered by rescuers, Bosnian and Macedonian officials said.
"There are no survivors. The bodies have been found in the wreck," said Mirsad Teskeredzic, a coordinator of the rescue team, adding that bodies were burned.
The official flight from Skopje to Mostar yesterday was carrying Trajkovski, two crew men and six presidential aides.
"Our informal information from our team on the ground is that all nine bodies have been found. We are waiting for an official confirmation," said a government source in the Macedonian capital Skopje.
Macedonia's Prime Minister, Mr Branko Crvenkovski flew back to Skopje yesterday morning from Dublin immediately after receiving confirmation that President Boris Trajkovski had been killed in the crash.
The delegation, who were shaken by the news, returned home immediately, and the application for EU membership will now be submitted on a future occasion during the term of Ireland's European presidency.