Jordan king hails health ministry in dealing with deadly accident

His Majesty King Abdullah II voiced pride in and appreciation of the "distinguished" efforts of Health Ministry staff and civil defence and public security personnel who dealt with a horrific accident on the Dead Sea road that involved a bus carrying Palestinian pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia. The King wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Abdullah Esnour that cadres of the concerned authorities had rushed to help their brothers and sisters who were injured in the bus crash, worked in the one team spirit and performed their task professionally and humanely by providing quick aid to the injured. The King asked the prime minister to convey his deep thanks and appreciation to Health Ministry staff and civil defence and public security members for their efforts,"which have always been a source of pride for all Jordanians". At least 17 people were killed and 38 others wounded, most of them West Bank residents, in the accident which saw their bush crashing into two vehicles.