2015-01-02 17:30
Lagos - The National Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria, Dr
Fredrick Fasehun while addressing the media in Lagos stated that the All
Progressive Party Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari should not
rule again, DailyIndependent reported.
Also read: Dear Buhari!
Faseun
further added that many of the times Buhari has been painted as the
"Messiah of Nigeria" which is untrue, the country needs someone who will
be able to tackle insurgency and terrorism, Buhari is simply not the
answer he said.
The next two months will be quite crucial for the country as it will state whether the country is going to progress or not.
He
has urged Nigerians to review the messages political leaders are
bringing out and need to weigh their options as a country needs to
progress and not turn back.
For more on this story visit DailyIndependent
Saturday, 3 January 2015
Gunmen kill three Sunni clerics in south Iraq
2015-01-02 17:30
Basra - Gunmen shot dead three Sunni clerics in the Shiite-majority southern province of Basra, Iraqi officials said on Friday.
Raikan Mahdi, the head of the security committee for the province's Al-Zubair district, said the shooting by "unknown gunmen" also wounded two more clerics.
Mahdi said the attack took place as the clerics headed from provincial capital Basra to Al-Zubair after attending a meeting on preparations for celebrating the Prophet Mohammed's birthday.
Also read: Iraq official: ISIS siege of Mount Sinjar broken
Interior Minister Mohammed Ghabban ordered an investigation into the attack, the ministry said in a statement.
It blamed the violence on "forces serving the (Islamic State group) project," a reference to a Sunni jihadist organisation that spearheaded a sweeping offensive that overran large parts of the country.
But the Iraqi Islamic Party, one of the main Sunni political parties, said the attack was carried out by "criminal militias," an apparent reference to Shiite fighters Baghdad has turned to for support in its battle against IS.
Shiite militiamen have played key roles in operations against the jihadists, but have also carried out kidnappings and extrajudicial killings
While pro-government forces have regained some ground from IS, large areas are still outside Baghdad's control.
Basra - Gunmen shot dead three Sunni clerics in the Shiite-majority southern province of Basra, Iraqi officials said on Friday.
Raikan Mahdi, the head of the security committee for the province's Al-Zubair district, said the shooting by "unknown gunmen" also wounded two more clerics.
Mahdi said the attack took place as the clerics headed from provincial capital Basra to Al-Zubair after attending a meeting on preparations for celebrating the Prophet Mohammed's birthday.
Also read: Iraq official: ISIS siege of Mount Sinjar broken
Interior Minister Mohammed Ghabban ordered an investigation into the attack, the ministry said in a statement.
It blamed the violence on "forces serving the (Islamic State group) project," a reference to a Sunni jihadist organisation that spearheaded a sweeping offensive that overran large parts of the country.
But the Iraqi Islamic Party, one of the main Sunni political parties, said the attack was carried out by "criminal militias," an apparent reference to Shiite fighters Baghdad has turned to for support in its battle against IS.
Shiite militiamen have played key roles in operations against the jihadists, but have also carried out kidnappings and extrajudicial killings
While pro-government forces have regained some ground from IS, large areas are still outside Baghdad's control.
Mourning and fury over China stampede deaths
2015-01-02 17:30
Shangai - The bitter pain of bereavement turned to tears of anger Friday for relatives of the 36 killed in a New Year's Eve crush in Shanghai, as they accused authorities of failing to control the crowds.
Li Juan was only a few metres away from her younger sister Li Na on the Bund when the accident happened on a wide stairway leading to a waterfront promenade.
"It all feels like a dream and I still cannot believe that she is gone," she said, weeping uncontrollably and struggling to get her words out.
The 23-year-old victim worked as an assistant teacher in an early learning centre.
Also read: 34 killed in stampede at Guinea beach concert
"The
government is responsible for the accident," Li said, adding she only
saw six to eight police on the staircase. "I couldn't see any other
police on the plaza" below, she added, before collapsing in grief on the
floor.
The stampede took place as vast numbers of people crammed into a square named for Chen Yi, Shanghai's first Communist mayor.
Most of the fatalities were young women, authorities said, and Li was from one of three families who spoke to AFP Friday about their lost loved ones.
Qi Xiaoyan, a 21-year-old migrant worker, came to Shanghai from nearby Anhui province just four months ago to earn money to support her family back home, her cousin said.
"I cannot imagine something like this would ever happen in a city like Shanghai," said Cai Jinjin, who has lived in Shanghai for 10 years.
"Besides the sadness, I'm more bitterly disappointed in this city."
All but four of the dead on a list of 32 identified victims released by the city government were aged 25 or under, and 21 were female. The youngest was a 12-year-old boy, Mao Yongjie.
He became separated from his mother in the overwhelming flow of revellers, news magazine Caixin reported, and efforts by hospital staff to save his life failed. His mother spent New Year's day crying until she passed out from exhaustion, Caixin added.
The crush is Shanghai's worst accident since a fire in a high-rise residential building killed 58 people in 2010, and a black mark for the commercial hub's international reputation.
The official news agency Xinhua said municipal authorities had been caught in a wave of criticism for "not making effective preparative measures to cope with the crowds that flock the Bund".
Oldest victimThe oldest fatality was Du Shuanghua, 37, whose wife told AFP he was the family's only breadwinner and she had not told their eight-year-old son that his father was dead.
Fan Ping showed AFP pictures of the family together on her phone, but struggled to find the one she wanted her husband to be remembered by, before refusing to look at it herself.
Friends who were with Du on the Bund told Fan that her husband was still conscious when he arrived at the Shanghai Number One People's Hospital, where most of the injured were taken. But she never saw him alive again.
Police and security guards prevented relatives from entering the hospital before eventually allowing only two members of each family into a waiting area.
"We waited desperately from midnight the first day to 9:00 pm the next day. The hospital did not give me any updates on my husband until we were told to go to the funeral home to see his dead body," Fan said.
Relatives wailed uncontrollably at a funeral home where some of the bodies were taken, with one woman crumpling with despair almost immediately after coming out with other family members holding her up.
One man said: "My son is in there, I can't believe this happened."
City authorities on Friday raised the number of injured by two to 49, according to a statement. Four were in critical condition, Xinhua said citing hospital sources, and another nine were severely hurt.
People continued to gather at the accident scene, some laying flowers in a government-approved show of mourning.
University student Chen Xiaohang placed white chrysanthemums at the memorial site in memory of the sister of a high-school classmate who died.
"I feel very sad about this and I hope the government will offer better safety controls for events like this," she said.
Shanghai residents also questioned why authorities did not control the crowds, although police said a "more than normal" 700-strong force was present.
"The Shanghai government should take responsibility for the incident. Most of the young victims must be the only child of their families," said taxi driver Xu Jianzhong.
Under China's strict birth control regulations most couples are restricted to a single child.
Shangai - The bitter pain of bereavement turned to tears of anger Friday for relatives of the 36 killed in a New Year's Eve crush in Shanghai, as they accused authorities of failing to control the crowds.
Li Juan was only a few metres away from her younger sister Li Na on the Bund when the accident happened on a wide stairway leading to a waterfront promenade.
"It all feels like a dream and I still cannot believe that she is gone," she said, weeping uncontrollably and struggling to get her words out.
The 23-year-old victim worked as an assistant teacher in an early learning centre.
Also read: 34 killed in stampede at Guinea beach concert
The stampede took place as vast numbers of people crammed into a square named for Chen Yi, Shanghai's first Communist mayor.
Most of the fatalities were young women, authorities said, and Li was from one of three families who spoke to AFP Friday about their lost loved ones.
Qi Xiaoyan, a 21-year-old migrant worker, came to Shanghai from nearby Anhui province just four months ago to earn money to support her family back home, her cousin said.
"I cannot imagine something like this would ever happen in a city like Shanghai," said Cai Jinjin, who has lived in Shanghai for 10 years.
"Besides the sadness, I'm more bitterly disappointed in this city."
All but four of the dead on a list of 32 identified victims released by the city government were aged 25 or under, and 21 were female. The youngest was a 12-year-old boy, Mao Yongjie.
He became separated from his mother in the overwhelming flow of revellers, news magazine Caixin reported, and efforts by hospital staff to save his life failed. His mother spent New Year's day crying until she passed out from exhaustion, Caixin added.
The crush is Shanghai's worst accident since a fire in a high-rise residential building killed 58 people in 2010, and a black mark for the commercial hub's international reputation.
The official news agency Xinhua said municipal authorities had been caught in a wave of criticism for "not making effective preparative measures to cope with the crowds that flock the Bund".
Oldest victimThe oldest fatality was Du Shuanghua, 37, whose wife told AFP he was the family's only breadwinner and she had not told their eight-year-old son that his father was dead.
Fan Ping showed AFP pictures of the family together on her phone, but struggled to find the one she wanted her husband to be remembered by, before refusing to look at it herself.
Friends who were with Du on the Bund told Fan that her husband was still conscious when he arrived at the Shanghai Number One People's Hospital, where most of the injured were taken. But she never saw him alive again.
Police and security guards prevented relatives from entering the hospital before eventually allowing only two members of each family into a waiting area.
"We waited desperately from midnight the first day to 9:00 pm the next day. The hospital did not give me any updates on my husband until we were told to go to the funeral home to see his dead body," Fan said.
Relatives wailed uncontrollably at a funeral home where some of the bodies were taken, with one woman crumpling with despair almost immediately after coming out with other family members holding her up.
One man said: "My son is in there, I can't believe this happened."
City authorities on Friday raised the number of injured by two to 49, according to a statement. Four were in critical condition, Xinhua said citing hospital sources, and another nine were severely hurt.
People continued to gather at the accident scene, some laying flowers in a government-approved show of mourning.
University student Chen Xiaohang placed white chrysanthemums at the memorial site in memory of the sister of a high-school classmate who died.
"I feel very sad about this and I hope the government will offer better safety controls for events like this," she said.
Shanghai residents also questioned why authorities did not control the crowds, although police said a "more than normal" 700-strong force was present.
"The Shanghai government should take responsibility for the incident. Most of the young victims must be the only child of their families," said taxi driver Xu Jianzhong.
Under China's strict birth control regulations most couples are restricted to a single child.
7 killed in al Shabaab attack at Somali military base
2015-01-03 09:17
Mogadishu - Somalian al Shabaab militants attacked a military base in the outskirts of the town of Baidoa on Friday morning, killing at least seven soldiers, a Somali military official said.
The attack came two days after the United States said it had killed the chief of al Shabaab's intelligence and security wing, Tahliil Abdishakur, in a drone strike. Al Shabaab seeks to topple the Western-backed Mogadishu government and impose its own strict version of Islamic law.
"Al Shabaab attacked our base unexpectedly, early in the morning today. We lost seven soldiers," Captain Ahmed Idow, a Somali military officer, told Reuters by telephone from Baidoa.
Also read: Al Shabaab leader killed in U.S. air strike in Mogadishu
Idow said Somali soldiers killed three al Shabaab insurgents during the attack.
A
spokesman for al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab said the group had briefly
seized the base and killed more than 10 soldiers. Al Shabaab often cites
a higher death toll than the number given by officials.
"We fiercely attacked the military base near Baidoa," Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab's military operation spokesman, told Reuters.
In a separate incident in central Somalia on Friday, al Shabaab ambushed a government convoy carrying food aid, killing one soldier, according to Somali officials.
A spokesman for al Shabaab confirmed the group was behind the attack.
Mogadishu - Somalian al Shabaab militants attacked a military base in the outskirts of the town of Baidoa on Friday morning, killing at least seven soldiers, a Somali military official said.
The attack came two days after the United States said it had killed the chief of al Shabaab's intelligence and security wing, Tahliil Abdishakur, in a drone strike. Al Shabaab seeks to topple the Western-backed Mogadishu government and impose its own strict version of Islamic law.
"Al Shabaab attacked our base unexpectedly, early in the morning today. We lost seven soldiers," Captain Ahmed Idow, a Somali military officer, told Reuters by telephone from Baidoa.
Also read: Al Shabaab leader killed in U.S. air strike in Mogadishu
Idow said Somali soldiers killed three al Shabaab insurgents during the attack.
"We fiercely attacked the military base near Baidoa," Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab's military operation spokesman, told Reuters.
In a separate incident in central Somalia on Friday, al Shabaab ambushed a government convoy carrying food aid, killing one soldier, according to Somali officials.
A spokesman for al Shabaab confirmed the group was behind the attack.
Lantern causes Bangkok Airways flight cancellation
2015-01-03 09:17
Bangkok - Bangkok Airways was forced to cancel a flight over the new year period after a traditional fire lantern was found stuck to the plane's engine, the airline said Friday.
The Airbus A320 had flown into Chiang Mai airport in the country's north on Thursday night from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport and was due to return to the capital.
As the plane taxied to its stand, lanterns were spotted floating over the airport and one was apparently sucked into the engine.
"After the aircraft parked at the gate, technicians found a lantern stuck to engine number two and the airline decided to cancel" Flight PG906, an airline statement said.
The incident comes at a time of heightened concern over fire lanterns, small paper balloons usually powered by a candle which are traditionally released by Thais during festivals and celebrations.
Also read: 14 suspects nabbed at Lagos airport for drug possession
Scores of flights from Chiang Mai had to be cancelled in October during a festival because lanterns drifted into the airport's airspace and aviation chiefs have previously warned that lamps could be hazardous to aircraft.
New Year celebrations have seen no let up in stray lanterns despite the warnings.
"We have collected 200 lanterns inside Chiang Mai airport over New Year's Eve," Visutr Chantana, the airport's director, told AFP.
In the latest incident no damage was caused to the aircraft which was later flown without passengers back to Bangkok for further testing.
"Today our technicians checked the aircraft and found that the engine was fine and safe," Bangkok Airways said.
The incident comes after an AirAsia jet flying from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore crashed into the sea on Sunday during a storm with 162 people aboard.
On Tuesday another AirAsia jet, this time in the Philippines, skidded off the runway on arrival at a popular resort island, causing no injuries but shutting the small airport.
Bangkok - Bangkok Airways was forced to cancel a flight over the new year period after a traditional fire lantern was found stuck to the plane's engine, the airline said Friday.
The Airbus A320 had flown into Chiang Mai airport in the country's north on Thursday night from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport and was due to return to the capital.
As the plane taxied to its stand, lanterns were spotted floating over the airport and one was apparently sucked into the engine.
"After the aircraft parked at the gate, technicians found a lantern stuck to engine number two and the airline decided to cancel" Flight PG906, an airline statement said.
The incident comes at a time of heightened concern over fire lanterns, small paper balloons usually powered by a candle which are traditionally released by Thais during festivals and celebrations.
Also read: 14 suspects nabbed at Lagos airport for drug possession
Scores of flights from Chiang Mai had to be cancelled in October during a festival because lanterns drifted into the airport's airspace and aviation chiefs have previously warned that lamps could be hazardous to aircraft.
New Year celebrations have seen no let up in stray lanterns despite the warnings.
"We have collected 200 lanterns inside Chiang Mai airport over New Year's Eve," Visutr Chantana, the airport's director, told AFP.
In the latest incident no damage was caused to the aircraft which was later flown without passengers back to Bangkok for further testing.
"Today our technicians checked the aircraft and found that the engine was fine and safe," Bangkok Airways said.
The incident comes after an AirAsia jet flying from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore crashed into the sea on Sunday during a storm with 162 people aboard.
On Tuesday another AirAsia jet, this time in the Philippines, skidded off the runway on arrival at a popular resort island, causing no injuries but shutting the small airport.
INEC displays list of 15 governorship candidates in Lagos
2015-01-03 09:17
Lagos - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has displayed the names and particulars of 15 governorship candidates in Lagos State as presented to it by their political parties.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited INEC office in Lagos on Friday, reports that the commission also displayed the names of the candidates’ running mates and candidates for House of Assembly.
According to the list, Mr Ayodele Akele is govenorship candidate for the National Conscience Party (NCP), while his running mate is Dr Akinlade Babafemi.
Also in the list, Mrs Pauline Adegbe and Mr Olamide Oguntoyinbo appeared as the governorship candidate for the Progressives Peoples’ Alliance (PPA) and running mate respectively.
The Action Alliance (AC) also has Mr Aregbesola Ishola and
Mrs Omolola Olorunnishola as its governorship candidate and running mate
respectively in the list.
Also read: Redeployment in INEC will improve administration efficiency - AD
The list as well featured Mr Godwin Mayor as the governorship candidate for Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) and Mr Ugochukwu Ekwebelem as his running mate.
Mr Akinwunmi Ambode is presented in the list as governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) with Mrs Aderanti Adebule as his running mate.
The list displayed Mr Olujimi Agbaje as the governorship candidate for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with Mrs Safirat Abdukareem as his running mate.
According to it, Mr Victor Adeniji is running as governorship candidate on the platform of Kowa Party (KP) with Mrs Funmilayo Davidson as his running mate.
It also featured Mr Olatunde Olusesan as the governorship candidate for the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and Mrs Abiodun Shuaib as his running mate.
In the list, Mr Ademola Razaq appeared as the flag-bearer of the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) with Mr Folawiyo Adebayo as his running mate.
It also indicated Mr Kayode Jacobs as the governorship candiadte on the platform of Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP) with Mr Akeem Suberu as his running mate.
Mr Festus Igbinoba is representing United Progressive Party (UPP) with Mr Kanu Urji as his running mate in the list.
However, it was observed that the list did not reflect the governorship candidate for Independent Democrat (ID) but reflected Mrs Omoshola Lawal as a running mate candidate.
Similarly, the People Democratic Movement (PDM) has only the name of its governorship candidate, Mr Akin Badmus on the list.
The list as well reflected the name of the running mate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Edwin Izuchukwu and Mr Olurotimi Olulana as the governorship candidate for the Labour Party (LP).
The display is in accordance with the provision of the Electoral Act as amended.
Section 31 Subsection 3 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides for publication of personal particulars of all candidates contesting in 2015 general elections within seven days of the receipt of form CF 001.(NAN)
Lagos - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has displayed the names and particulars of 15 governorship candidates in Lagos State as presented to it by their political parties.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited INEC office in Lagos on Friday, reports that the commission also displayed the names of the candidates’ running mates and candidates for House of Assembly.
According to the list, Mr Ayodele Akele is govenorship candidate for the National Conscience Party (NCP), while his running mate is Dr Akinlade Babafemi.
Also in the list, Mrs Pauline Adegbe and Mr Olamide Oguntoyinbo appeared as the governorship candidate for the Progressives Peoples’ Alliance (PPA) and running mate respectively.
Also read: Redeployment in INEC will improve administration efficiency - AD
The list as well featured Mr Godwin Mayor as the governorship candidate for Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) and Mr Ugochukwu Ekwebelem as his running mate.
Mr Akinwunmi Ambode is presented in the list as governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) with Mrs Aderanti Adebule as his running mate.
The list displayed Mr Olujimi Agbaje as the governorship candidate for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with Mrs Safirat Abdukareem as his running mate.
According to it, Mr Victor Adeniji is running as governorship candidate on the platform of Kowa Party (KP) with Mrs Funmilayo Davidson as his running mate.
It also featured Mr Olatunde Olusesan as the governorship candidate for the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and Mrs Abiodun Shuaib as his running mate.
In the list, Mr Ademola Razaq appeared as the flag-bearer of the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) with Mr Folawiyo Adebayo as his running mate.
It also indicated Mr Kayode Jacobs as the governorship candiadte on the platform of Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP) with Mr Akeem Suberu as his running mate.
Mr Festus Igbinoba is representing United Progressive Party (UPP) with Mr Kanu Urji as his running mate in the list.
However, it was observed that the list did not reflect the governorship candidate for Independent Democrat (ID) but reflected Mrs Omoshola Lawal as a running mate candidate.
Similarly, the People Democratic Movement (PDM) has only the name of its governorship candidate, Mr Akin Badmus on the list.
The list as well reflected the name of the running mate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Edwin Izuchukwu and Mr Olurotimi Olulana as the governorship candidate for the Labour Party (LP).
The display is in accordance with the provision of the Electoral Act as amended.
Section 31 Subsection 3 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides for publication of personal particulars of all candidates contesting in 2015 general elections within seven days of the receipt of form CF 001.(NAN)
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Searchers find 2 big parts of crashed AirAsia plane
2015-01-03 07:16
Pangkalan Bun - Recovery teams have found two big parts of
AirAsia Flight QZ8501, which crashed into the sea last weekend with 162
people on board, Indonesia's top search official said on Saturday.
The huge search operation came across the objects in the Java Sea off the island of Borneo late on Friday night, raising hopes that the remaining bodies and the plane's black boxes, crucial to determining the cause of the crash, will soon be located.
The bodies of 30 of those killed when the plane crashed early on Sunday during a storm en route from Indonesia's second city of Surabaya to Singapore have so far been recovered.
"With the discovery of an oil spill and two big parts of the aircraft, I can assure you these are the parts of the AirAsia plane we have been looking for," search and rescue agency chief Bambang Soelistyo told reporters.
He said they were now sending divers to the spot where the plane parts had been found to try and recover more bodies.
"The main focus today is to find and evacuate victims," he said.
Unauthorised schedule
News of the discovery came after Indonesia's transport ministry said AirAsia had been flying on an unauthorised schedule when it crashed. The airline has now been suspended from flying the Surabaya-Singapore route.
"It violated the route permit given, the schedule given, that's the problem," said director general of air transport Djoko Murjatmodjo, adding that the permit for the route would be frozen until investigations were completed.
A statement from transport ministry spokesperson JA Barata said AirAsia had not been permitted to fly the Surabaya-Singapore route on Sundays and had not asked to change its schedule.
It was unclear how the airliner had been able to fly without the necessary authorisation.
The plane was operated by AirAsia Indonesia, a unit of Malaysia-based AirAsia, which previously had a solid safety record.
Recovery teams, which have been hampered by rough weather in recent days, on Friday narrowed their search to an area of 45 by 35 nautical miles centred about 75 nautical miles southwest of Pangkalan Bun, a town in Central Kalimantan on Borneo.
Twenty-nine ships and 17 aircraft were engaged in the huge operation, deploying side-scan sonar equipment to survey the seabed and pinger locators to find the black boxes.
Russia has sent in dozens of divers to help with the operations, as well as two planes, one amphibious, Soelistyo said.
Hampered by strong current
The search chief said the larger of the two objects found on Friday night was about 10m by 5m.
"As I speak we are lowering an ROV [remotely operated underwater vehicle] underwater to get an actual picture of the objects detected on the sea floor. All are at the depth of 30m," Soelistyo said.
He added however that a strong current was making it difficult to operate the ROV.
The families of victims have been preparing funerals as the bodies recovered are identified in Surabaya, where a crisis centre has been set up at a police hospital with facilities to store 150 bodies.
AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes on Friday tweeted that he was arriving in Surabaya to take home flight attendant Khairunisa Haidar Fauzi after her body was identified.
"I cannot describe how I feel. There are no words," Fernandes wrote.
Fauzi had recently posted an Instagram picture with the message "I love you from 38,000 ft" for her boyfriend.
Disastrous year for Malaysian air travel
Before take-off, the pilot of Flight 8501 had asked for permission to fly at a higher altitude to avoid a storm, but the request was not approved due to other planes above him on the popular route, according to AirNav, Indonesia's air traffic control.
In his last communication shortly before all contact was lost, he said he wanted to change course to avoid the menacing storm system.
Of the 162 passengers and crew on board, 155 were Indonesian, with three South Koreans, one Singaporean, one Malaysian, one Briton and a Frenchman - co-pilot Remi Plesel.
The crash came at the end of a disastrous year for Malaysian air travel.
Flight MH370 disappeared in March en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew, while another Malaysia Airlines flight - MH17 - was shot down over Ukraine in July, killing all 298 on board.
AFP
The huge search operation came across the objects in the Java Sea off the island of Borneo late on Friday night, raising hopes that the remaining bodies and the plane's black boxes, crucial to determining the cause of the crash, will soon be located.
The bodies of 30 of those killed when the plane crashed early on Sunday during a storm en route from Indonesia's second city of Surabaya to Singapore have so far been recovered.
"With the discovery of an oil spill and two big parts of the aircraft, I can assure you these are the parts of the AirAsia plane we have been looking for," search and rescue agency chief Bambang Soelistyo told reporters.
He said they were now sending divers to the spot where the plane parts had been found to try and recover more bodies.
"The main focus today is to find and evacuate victims," he said.
Unauthorised schedule
News of the discovery came after Indonesia's transport ministry said AirAsia had been flying on an unauthorised schedule when it crashed. The airline has now been suspended from flying the Surabaya-Singapore route.
"It violated the route permit given, the schedule given, that's the problem," said director general of air transport Djoko Murjatmodjo, adding that the permit for the route would be frozen until investigations were completed.
A statement from transport ministry spokesperson JA Barata said AirAsia had not been permitted to fly the Surabaya-Singapore route on Sundays and had not asked to change its schedule.
It was unclear how the airliner had been able to fly without the necessary authorisation.
The plane was operated by AirAsia Indonesia, a unit of Malaysia-based AirAsia, which previously had a solid safety record.
Recovery teams, which have been hampered by rough weather in recent days, on Friday narrowed their search to an area of 45 by 35 nautical miles centred about 75 nautical miles southwest of Pangkalan Bun, a town in Central Kalimantan on Borneo.
Twenty-nine ships and 17 aircraft were engaged in the huge operation, deploying side-scan sonar equipment to survey the seabed and pinger locators to find the black boxes.
Russia has sent in dozens of divers to help with the operations, as well as two planes, one amphibious, Soelistyo said.
Hampered by strong current
The search chief said the larger of the two objects found on Friday night was about 10m by 5m.
"As I speak we are lowering an ROV [remotely operated underwater vehicle] underwater to get an actual picture of the objects detected on the sea floor. All are at the depth of 30m," Soelistyo said.
He added however that a strong current was making it difficult to operate the ROV.
The families of victims have been preparing funerals as the bodies recovered are identified in Surabaya, where a crisis centre has been set up at a police hospital with facilities to store 150 bodies.
AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes on Friday tweeted that he was arriving in Surabaya to take home flight attendant Khairunisa Haidar Fauzi after her body was identified.
"I cannot describe how I feel. There are no words," Fernandes wrote.
Fauzi had recently posted an Instagram picture with the message "I love you from 38,000 ft" for her boyfriend.
Disastrous year for Malaysian air travel
Before take-off, the pilot of Flight 8501 had asked for permission to fly at a higher altitude to avoid a storm, but the request was not approved due to other planes above him on the popular route, according to AirNav, Indonesia's air traffic control.
In his last communication shortly before all contact was lost, he said he wanted to change course to avoid the menacing storm system.
Of the 162 passengers and crew on board, 155 were Indonesian, with three South Koreans, one Singaporean, one Malaysian, one Briton and a Frenchman - co-pilot Remi Plesel.
The crash came at the end of a disastrous year for Malaysian air travel.
Flight MH370 disappeared in March en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew, while another Malaysia Airlines flight - MH17 - was shot down over Ukraine in July, killing all 298 on board.
AFP
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