Syria says at least 19 killed after two buses collide

Syrian state media said at least 19 people were killed on Saturday when two buses collided in the central-eastern region of the country.

State television reported "the death of 19 people and the injury of 27 others in a preliminary toll from a collision of two passenger buses on the Damascus-Deir Ezzor road between the Sukhna and Palmyra areas," while the interior ministry said the crash was between "a bus carrying a number of internal security forces personnel and a civilian bus".

However, citing state media, AP claimed that at least 35 people were killed and dozens injured after two buses collided on a highway linking the Syrian capital with the eastern province of Deir el-Zour on Saturday.