Plane With Liberia Delegates Loses Wheels

ACCRA, Ghana - A Ghana military plane lost its wheels and skidded off the runway Thursday as it was taking off to fly home delegates of Liberia's peace talks, witnesses and airport officials said.

Witnesses said an airport emergency team that evacuated the Fokker 27 took some of those aboard to a nearby clinic. The airport officials refused to comment on any injuries.

The plane was carrying 44 passengers and crew members, including rebel and government delegates to the talks, authorities said on condition of anonymity.

The plane never became fully airborne and instead shot off the tarmac at Kokoto international airport, witnesses said.

Delegates were returning from 78 days of peace talks for Liberia held in the Ghana capital.