Firefighters douse a car with water after an small airplane crashed in Mexico City during rush hour, 04 Nov 2008

Mexican officials say Interior Minister Juan Camilo Mourino and twelve other people have been killed in a small plane crash in the center of the Mexican capital. Dozens of injuries have been reported.

Witnesses say the plane crashed during the evening rush hour near the main avenue, Paseo de la Reforma, causing a fire that destroyed at least 20 automobiles.

The aircraft was traveling from the San Luis Potosi area to Mexico City. The capital city's mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, says no one on board the aircraft survived. It is not clear what caused the crash.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has promised a full investigation.

In Washington, a U.S. State Department spokesperson called the accident "shocking." The U.S. Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff lamented the plane crash, adding that Mourino was a "good friend and close counterpart."

Mourino became the country's interior minister earlier this year.

Mr. Calderon had said at the time that Mourino would negotiate with the opposition and press for economic reforms that would help the country's development.