Bus, fuel tanker collision kills 21 in southern Iraq

BASRA, Iraq — A passenger bus collided with a fuel tanker on a highway between Najaf and Basra in Dhi Qar province, killing 21 people and injuring 19 others. All the dead were Iraqi nationals, according to officials. Of the injured, 17 were Iraqi and two were Iranian nationals; some burn victims were in critical condition. Authorities said the bus overturned after its driver lost control at high speed, then caught fire upon colliding with the tanker. The vehicle was carrying Shia pilgrims returning from Najaf and Karbala to Basra. Prime Minister Ali al-Hamdani ordered emergency medical treatment for the wounded and called for a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the crash. Traffic units said they were examining the scene.