Egypt traffic death sparks riot

Egyptian police have opened fire on about 3,000 rioters on a main road north of the capital Cairo, wounding about 10 people.

The riot erupted after a 16-year-old girl, Samah Mustafa, was killed by a speeding lorry. She had been trying to cross the road near the village of Mit Nema, about 15km north of Cairo.

Reports say another 50 people - including six policemen - were injured during the disturbance, either by stones thrown by protesters or by the effects of police tear gas.

Ms Mustafa's death was the latest in a string of fatal accidents that Mit Nama villagers have blamed on the failure of authorities to build foot bridges.

The villagers also complain about the lack of action against motorists who routinely ignore traffic regulations.

Driver 'critical'

According to the reports, they seized the driver of the lorry that hit the girl, beat him severely and set his vehicle on fire.

The driver was admitted to hospital in a critical condition.

Residents of Mit Nema also set fire to a number of other vehicles and are reported to have pushed a boulder on to the local railway line, blocking trains for about an hour.

Police said they had arrested about 20 people.

Villagers said scores of people had been killed and injured along the road, which goes from Cairo to the Mediterranean port of Alexandria, as a result of speed violations and reckless driving.

Official figures indicate that more than 6,000 people were killed in traffic accidents in Egypt in 1998.