Road accident kills 11 in Afghanistan

At least 11 people have been killed in a road accident in western Afghanistan.

Rauf Ahmadi, spokesman for the provincial police chief, said seven other people were injured in the collision involving three vehicles near the city of Herat.

He said the crash was the result of carelessness, and that women and children were among those killed and wounded.

The accident happened on Friday amid celebrations of the Persian new year, which began on March 21 and is followed by 13 days of festivities, including family visits and picnics.

Traffic accidents are common across Afghanistan, where roads are poorly maintained and drivers routinely ignore traffic regulations.