Officials in Jordan say a bus carrying Palestinian pilgrims has overturned and crashed into a trailer on a highway near the Israeli border, killing 15 people.

A Civil Defence statement said that 14 pilgrims and the driver were killed in the accident on Saturday, while 32 Palestinians were injured.

The statement said the pilgrims were passing through Jordan on their way back to the West Bank from Muslim holy shrines in the cities of Mecca and Medina in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

It added that the bus driver lost control of the brakes, skidded and collided into a trailer, then overturned about 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of the Israeli-controlled Allenby Bridge.

The bridge across the Jordan River is used for passengers and cargo traded with the West Bank.

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