A dozen tourists and tour guides have been killed by Egyptian security forces in what has been described as an accident.

The Egyptian interior ministry issued a statement saying that while police were pursuing "terrorist elements" they accidentally shot at a tourist convoy, international media has reported.

"A joint force from the police and military, whilst chasing terrorist elements in the oasis area of the western desert tonight, accidentally engaged four four-wheel drives belonging to a Mexican tourist group," the ministry said in a statement.

"The incident resulted in the death of 12 Mexicans and Egyptians and the injury of 10 others who have been transferred to hospitals," the statement said.