Forty five bodies recovered in the wreckage of the Polish presidential plane, which crashed last Saturday near the western Russian city of Smolensk, have been identified, the Russian health minister said.
The Soviet-made Tu-154 aircraft carrying a top-level delegation, including Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife, hit the top of trees as it attempted to land at an airport in western Russia near the city of Smolensk in thick fog on Saturday morning. All 96 people on board were killed in the crash.
"The procedure of identification will continue on Tuesday for more 54 relatives, who arrived in Moscow on Monday," Tatyana Golikova said.
In all, as of Monday 87 dead bodies have been recovered by Russian rescuers at the crash site. They are being sent to Moscow for identification procedures.
On Tuesday Russia begins repatriating the bodies recovered in the wreckage.
A special headquarters has been set up by Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov to provide assistance to the relatives. The Russian capital has taken upon itself all the expenses for accommodating the visitors.
The President's body has been identified and flown to Warsaw where it will lie in state for several days until the burial. His wife's body will be flown to Warsaw on Tuesday morning.
MOSCOW, April 13 (RIA Novosti)
