Uzbek President expresses condolences to Italian leader

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov has sent a letter of condolences to President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano given the numerous human victims as a result of traffic accident in southern Italy, the press service of the President of Uzbekistan said.

The accident occurred Sunday night in Avellino province on the road to Naples. Thirty-eight people, including children, died when a bus carrying 50 pilgrims returning from a weekend visit to the Padro Pio in Pietrelcina, Italy, crashed into six cars, broke through the guard rail, and then fell nearly 30 meters off a viaduct.

According to some reports, the bus could have problems with the brake system, while eye witnesses report a possible tire blowout.