Twelve passengers die in train blaze in France

AN overnight express train heading for Austria burst into flames near a station in eastern France yesterday, killing 12 passengers. Nine people were injured.

The fire broke out as the Paris-Vienna train with 150 passengers on board was passing through the city of Nancy. The train was heading for the Austrian capital via Strasbourg, near the French-German border.

Investigators said the cause was a possible electrical problem in the heating system. Most if not all victims six men, five women and one child died of smoke inhalation. Their identities were not immediately known, although Germany's Foreign Ministry said four of dead appeared to be German. The train was to stop in Munich before reaching Vienna.The injured four Germans, three Britons, one American and one French were taken to a university hospital in Nancy.