Colombia plane carrying 15 troops missing-army

BOGOTA, Oct 9 (Reuters) A Colombian plane carrying 15 soldiers and a crew disappeared over a remote area, but bad weather has hampered search efforts, authorities said.

The Let-400 aircraft was on a 25-minute flight from Villavicencio to Uribe in Meta province yesterday when it disappeared, the military said in a statement.

''Due to the bad weather in the zone search and rescue efforts have not been able to start,'' the statement said.

Shortly before disappearing, the pilots contacted authorities to say they were going to land on schedule.

Meta province is one of the regions where left-wing guerrillas and paramilitary gangs cultivate coca used to make cocaine that helps fuels Colombia's 40-year conflict.

REUTERS SG BD1733