Iraqi pilgrims die when buses plunge into river

Four buses carrying pilgrims to the Iraqi holy city of Karbala plunged into a river today, killing 18 people on board.

Hospital chief Dr Dawoud al-Taie said the minibus drivers apparently did not see that a bridge over the river had been destroyed two days earlier by insurgents.

He said some passengers survived the accident, which occurred around dawn near Latifiyah, 20 miles south of Baghdad.

Dr Al-Taie said the victims were Iraqi Shiites mainly from Baghdad who were heading for Friday prayers in Karbala.