(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-17 06:45

CAIRO - The death toll of a traffic accident in northern Egypt has risen to 23, police sources said on Sunday.

The accident occurred in the evening when a police transport vehicle collided with a truck on the highway linking the capital city of Cairo with the Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria, said the sources on condition of anonymity.

Earlier report said at least 15, most of whom were policemen, were killed at the scene and 20 others were wounded in the accident.

The sources said eight wounded died from their serious injuries after reaching hospital and the others were receiving medical treatment.

The cause of the accident was not immediately clear, added the sources.

Road accidents are common in Egypt as police statistics estimated that some 6,000 people died annually in traffic accidents in the populous Arab country.