AMMAN, Oct 28 (AFP) - Twelve people, including nine British tourists, were killed Thursday when their bus overturned and crashed into a truck near the ancient city of Petra, a Jordanian official said.
"Nine British tourists and three Jordanians were killed in a tourist bus accident," the official said, adding that 12 others were injured
The British embassy in Amman confirmed the deaths of British nationals, without being able to confirm the numbers.
The dead Britons included five women and four men, while the Jordanian victims included the bus driver and the group's tour guide, the official said.
Officials said one of the coach's tyres blew out, causing the vehicle to turn over several times before hitting a truck.
Of the 12 injured, 11 of whom were British and one Egyptian, three were in a critical condition.
Those most seriously hurt were taken by helicopter to a hospital 50 kilometres (30 miles) away in the town of Tafileh.
The embassy said that Britain's Prince Charles, who is himself in Jordan, will join King Abdullah II in visiting the injured, who have now apparently all been taken to the King Hussein Hospital in Amman.
The tourists had been on an excursion to Petra, Jordan's best known ancient site, and were returning to the capital.
Charles had been scheduled to visit Petra on Friday, and the embassy could not confirm if that trip will still take place.
Petra, built in the 6th century BC by the Nabatean Arabs, is a three-hour drive south of Amman and accessible only through a narrow gorge. Its breath-taking architecture is carved into rose-colored sandstone cliffs.
10/28/2004 15:11 GMT - AFP