Aussie mining execs missing in Africa

Six Australian mining executives, including Talbot Group owner Ken Talbot and
Sundance Resources chairman Geoff Wedlock are among nine people missing in western
Africa after their plane disappeared.
Mr Wedlock's wife, Barbara, confirmed that the Perth-based executive was aboard the
flight.
She said her husband left Perth on Wednesday and was due back next week.
"We've had no news at all. We're still waiting," she told AAP from the family home
on Sunday.
Mr Wedlock was leading a delegation of board members from the WA-based iron ore
miner, which had been speaking with African officials about its promising Mbalam
project in Cameroon.
The plane was en route to the mine when it went missing early Saturday morning.
The Talbot Group has already confirmed that company owner and Sundance non-executive
director Ken Talbot was also aboard the plane, along with another unnamed senior
Talbot executive.
Brisbane-based Mr Talbot was due to face court in August charged with paying secret
commissions to disgraced former Queensland minister Gordon Nuttall between 2002 and
2005.
Another Perth-based Sundance director and HWE Mining executive John Jones is also
believed to have been on the plane.
A spokesman from Leighton Holdings, the parent company of HWE Mining, would not
confirm if Mr Jones was on board but a family friend told reporters he was missing.
Ms Wedlock said Mr Jones "was probably on the same flight".
Sundance Resources confirmed on Sunday that an extensive search was under way to
find the missing aircraft.
"The flight was carrying nine passengers, predominantly from Sundance Resources, who
were visiting the company's iron ore project in Cameroon and Congo.
"The families of the missing have been notified and are being supported during this
deeply distressing time."
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says its high commission in Nigeria is
in "close contact" with authorities in Cameroon, from where the plane took off.
The plane was travelling from Yaounde in Cameroon to Yangadou in Congo, DFAT said.
DFAT said the high commissioner designate to Abuja is in Cameroon and is "managing
the government's response on the ground".
"One additional official from our high commission in Abuja, plus a specialist
consular officer based in the Middle East, will travel to Cameroon as soon as is
possible to support the government's response," a spokeswoman told AAP.
"The specialist consular officer will bring additional communications equipment to
support the DFAT team on the ground in Cameroon."