ALMATY, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- A passenger bus collided with a railroad locomotive in Tajikistan on Monday, leaving nine people dead and several others injured, said the Tajik authorities.

    According to news reaching here from Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, the accident occurred in southwestern Dushanbe when the driver of a mini-bus was attempting to get over a level-crossing while the diesel locomotive was nearby, said government officials.

    The exact number of passengers aboard the bus was not immediately known, and initial investigation showed that the mini-bus's driver was at fault, they said.