Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa on Thursday promised an international investigation into the helicopter crash that killed the country's first woman defense minister.

"It was an unfortunate accident, but for the good of all there'll be a thorough investigation by an international commission, totally neutral ... so no doubt is left as to what happened," Correa told a crowd at a military building where Guadalupe Larriva's coffin was displayed.

He said France and Chile would take part in the probe, adding that the United States, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela offered to help and sent their condolences.

Correa, who was sworn in as Ecuador's new president last week, vowed to continue his socialist revolution to reform his country.

"We will not take a step back in our mission... to rebuild the country," he said. "My dear colleague, dear colleagues, on to victory always."

The president called for three days of national mourning for Larriva, as well as her 17-year-old daughter and five army officers who were also killed in the tragedy.

Larriva, 50, died on Wednesday night in a mid-air collision between two helicopters near a military base in Manta, some 260 km southeast of Quito.

She was appointed by Correa and took office on Jan. 15.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2007)