Kenya road crash kills 12 -official

NAIROBI, Aug 4 (Reuters) Twelve people died in Kenya today when a cattle truck lost control and plunged into a valley near the northern town of Moyale, a local official said.

Nine passengers travelling in the vehicle were killed on the spot and another three died in hospital, the official said. Four more were being treated and remained in critical condition.

''It was a very bad accident,'' Patrick Beja, Moyale's acting district commissioner, told Reuters by telephone.

''It is unfortunate they were travelling in a lorry that was also ferrying animals. We have no buses here and this is how they travel.'' Fatal road accidents are common in Kenya, which like many African countries suffers bad roads and poorly trained drivers.

Reuters PY RN1755