Johannesburg, March 17: The UN has opened a fresh investigation into the death of its secretary-general in a plane crash in Africa 53 years ago.

The death of the Swedish-born Dag Hammarskjold and 15 others as they flew to conduct peace talks with Congolese separatists was blamed on pilot error but has generated conspiracy theories since the crash in September 1961.

The DC-6B came down in what was then British-controlled northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, and although local authorities said it was the pilot's fault, a later UN investigation ruled an open verdict. At the time, the KGB, CIA and MI6 were all vying for influence in the neighbouring and uranium-rich newly independent Democratic Republic of the Congo.

UN peacekeeping troops had clashed with rebels vying for independence in the southern mineral province of Katanga. Britain and the US supported the rebels and had significant mining interests in the region.

A lone survivor, Sergeant Harold Julian, told investigators before he died five days after the crash that Hammarskjold had ordered the plane to change direction shortly before it came down.

Among claims related to the disaster were that a bomb had been planted on board, that mercenaries were responsible, and, most far-fetched of all, that Hammarskjold's bullet-ridden body was found propped up against a termite mound with an ace of spades on his collar.

The theory that a new three-member investigating panel of experts is expected to focus on is that the aircraft was shot down. Several people reported seeing sparks in the sky and another plane flying close by.

THE TIMES, LONDON