Tehran, Oct 31, IRNA -- Details of the car accident on the Chalous road on Wednesday which claimed the lives of two Majlis deputies and left another injured were announced here on Thursday by the acting head of Iran's Highway Police, Colonel Nakha'ie.

He said that a Peugeot model 405 carrying the MP from Chalous and Noshahr Anoushirvan Mohseni-Bandpey, Tehran lawmaker Ali-Reza Nouri and the Majlis deputy from Khash, Sistan and Baluchestan province, Masoud Hashem-Zehi was heading towards Chalous when it swerved to the left at Harijan curve 62 kms from Chalous, struck the wall and plunged into a ravine.

The accident was caused by the carelessness of the driver who was overspeeding and lost control of the car at the dangerous curve.

Colonel Nakha'ie said, "Unfortunately two MPs Ali-Reza Nouri and Masoud Hashem-Zehi along with the driver were killed instantly."

However, Anoushirvan Mohseni-Bandpey, who was sitting in front and had his seat-belt fastened, was only injured. He was rushed to a hospital in Chalous where he is now undergoing medical care.

Iran has one of the highest rates of road accidents in the world, with an average of 200,000 reported annually in which 15,000 people are killed and 87,000 injured.

Transport experts blame most of the accidents on dilapidated vehicles and reckless driving.

Majlis Minority Fraction of Majlis, in a message released here on Thursday conveyed its condolences to the entire nation and the Majlis Speaker Mehdi Karroubi on the sad occasion of the demise of the two MPs.

Burial ceremony for deceased MPs' to be held tomorrow

The bodies of the late MPs would be carried from outside the Iranian parliament to burial ground Thursday along with a funeral procession.

MP from Tehran Ali-Reza Nouri and MP from Khash, Sistan and Baluchestan, Masoud Hashem-Zehi were killed in a car accident on the Chalous road.

Nouri was the brother of former interior minister Abdollah Nuri, who was jailed for five years for anti-Islamic propaganda in 2000.

MP from Chalous and Nowshahr Anoushirvan Mohseni-Bandpey was also injured. He was rushed to hospital and is now receiving medical care.

Qasem Maleki, the driver of the car which veered off the road and fell deep into the Alijan valley near Chalous, was also killed.

President Seyed Mohammad Khatami, currently on a state visit to Spain, and Majlis Speaker Mehdi Karroubi presented condolences to the bereaved families of two MPs who were killed in a car accident on Wednesday.

The MPs were due to hold talks with the health officials of the northern cities of Chalous and Nowshahr on the health situation of the cities.

The accident occurred at 06:18 PM some 55 kilometers away from Chalous in northern Iran.

President Khatami sends condolence message on MPs demise

The fatal incident took place at 6:40 pm, local time, 55 kms to the north of Chalous, at Alijan Valley, after Siah Bisheh Village.

The MPs who lost their lives included Tehran Constituency representative Ali-Reza Nouri, and Khash Constituency MP Mas'oud Hashem Zehi. They were on a mission, along with the Noshahr and Chalous Constituency MP Anoushiravan Mohseni, whose leg and jaw are broken, but alive and recovering, to take part at a gathering aimed at solving the medical problems of Chalous and Noshahr townships on Thursday.

The three MPs belonged to the Health Care Commission of the parliament and travelled in a Peugeot passenger car, driven by Hamid Maleki, who also got killed in the incidence.

In President Khatami's message, faxed from Spain to the parliament we read:

The sad incident costing the the precious lives of two dynamic and invaluable MPs, Dr. Ali-Reza Nouri and engineer Mas'oud Hashem Zehi, and injuring Dr. Anoushiravan Mohseni, made me, too feel both bereaved and highly taken aback.

Although we have no option, but yielding to Almighty's Will, and being pleased with what He disposes, we pray to His Throne to make up for this great loss thoroughly.

While condoling your good self, the esteemed parliament members, all noble and bereaved families, particularly my most endeared brother Hojatoleslam Abdollah Nouri (former interior Minister and Tehran City Council rep - who has been imprisoned for over two years on political charges), and their nobel bereaved father, I pray to God for the blessing of their souls, as well as that of their ompanion, Hamid Maleki, and for endless patience to be granted to their bereaved families, as well as fast recovery of the injured.