Nine killed in Egypt road accident: report

At least nine people were killed andeleven others injured Sunday in an accident involving six vehicles and amotorbike on a highway toward Upper Egypt, the media reported.

The accident took place near a textile factory onFayoum-Beni Sweif road, about 100 km south of the capital Cairo, Xinhuareported citing state-run Ahram news website.

According to the World Health Organisation, Egypt losesabout 12,000 lives in road traffic crashes every year.

Egyptian experts said Egypt has the highest rate in roadaccidents worldwide, with about 13,000 deaths and 60,000 injuries every year,which cost the country around $2 billion annually.

The main reasons behind such a high rate of road accidentinclude lack of highway monitoring systems, poor road maintenance andnegligence of traffic rules.