29 die in 9-vehicle pileup in Egypt

At least 29 people were killed and 12 injured when nine cars and trucks slammed into each other on a fog-choked rural highway south of the Egyptian capital early Thursday, police said.

The string of cars collided because they were speeding in heavy fog some 60 miles south of Cairo, temporarily blocking the main agricultural road leading to Egypt's southern provinces.

The injured were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, a police official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

Road accidents are very common in Egypt due to bad roads and poor enforcement of traffic laws. Police estimate road accidents kill about 6,000 people annually.