Egypt: 19 troops killed in Sinai accident

[October 08, 2012]  EL-ARISH, Egypt (AP) -- A troop carrier overturned on a mountain road in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula early Monday, killing at least 19 members of the security forces stationed on the border with Israel, officials said.

Health Ministry official Tarek Khater said the driver of the vehicle was speeding downhill on the badly maintained road as he transported members of the paramilitary Central Security Forces along the borderline. A security official says the high number of casualties resulted from the vehicle overturning several times.

Khater says six others are in critical condition. A security official however says the injured number at least 48. He spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to talk to the press.

It was a different part of the Sinai from where the military is conducting a sweep against Islamic militants.

Traffic accidents are common in Egypt due to poor road maintenance and spotty enforcement of traffic laws. Police estimate they kill about 6,000 people annually.

[Associated Press; By ASHRAF SWEILAM]

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