IN THE AMERICAS

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MEXICO 16 die when plane crashes in mountains

The twin-turboprop De Haviland Twin Otter DHC-6 was flying from Durango, capital of Durango state, when it crashed near a remote airstrip, said state government spokesman Manuel Perez.

Perez said the dead included the pilot and co-pilot. Three people suffered serious burns and other injuries in the crash in Santa Maria de Otaes, a small mining town. He said the plane was used by a company that mines silver and gold in the area.

PUERTO RICO

SAN JUAN -- Miami jewelry salesman Ramon Martinez was robbed by two carjackers who made off with $220,000 worth of jewelry he was carrying, police said Friday.

Martinez, a salesman for T.M. Jeweler in Miami, was robbed Thursday after trying to sell his wares in several stores in the Plaza Las Americas shopping mall in San Juan, police officer Jesus Ortiz said.

Two people used a ruse to grab Martinez's car and drive off, Ortiz said. His suitcase, which remained in the car, contained 14-karat and 18-karat gold jewelry and precious stones.