Brazilian Senate president hurt in copter crash

BRASILIA, Brazil, Sep 30 (Reuters) The president of Brazil's Senate, Renan Calheiros, was slightly hurt when the helicopter in which he was traveling crashed in northeast Brazil today, a congressional spokesman said.

The incident occurred in Arapiraca city in Alagoas state on the eve of general elections in Brazil and one day after an Amazon plane crash in which 155 people are feared to have been killed.

Another senator, Teotonio Vilela, was also hurt. He is running for governor of Alagaos in the election for the opposition Brazilian Social Democracy Movement.

An aide and a third politician were also on board as well as the pilot. All were taken to a local hospital then discharged without serious injury.

Federal Police, aviation officials and a Senate security team were investigating the cause of the crash.

The helicopter belonged to a businessman, Agencia Estado said.

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