AMMAN, Oct 28: Nine people, including seven British tourists, were killed on Thursday when their bus overturned and crashed into a truck near the ancient city of Petra, a Jordanian official said.

"Seven British tourists and two Jordanians are dead," the official said, adding that another 15 people including 13 Britons, a Jordanian and an Egyptian had been injured.

The British embassy in Amman confirmed the deaths of British nationals, without being able to confirm the numbers involved.

The dead Britons included four women and three men, while the Jordanian victims were the bus driver and the group's tour guide.

Officials said one of the coach's tyres blew out, causing the vehicle to turn over several tim>es before hitting a truck.-AFP