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| Deadly stampede at Rabat festival | Deadly stampede at Rabat festival |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| At least 11 people have been killed in the Moroccan capital Rabat, following a stampede at a world music concert. | At least 11 people have been killed in the Moroccan capital Rabat, following a stampede at a world music concert. |
| Some 40 were injured when a wire fence collapsed at the Mawazine festival. | Some 40 were injured when a wire fence collapsed at the Mawazine festival. |
| The incident happened on Saturday night, when some 70,000 spectators were packed into the Hay Nahda stadium to see Moroccan singer Abdelaziz Stati. | The incident happened on Saturday night, when some 70,000 spectators were packed into the Hay Nahda stadium to see Moroccan singer Abdelaziz Stati. |
| The nine-day-long event has featured such international stars as Kylie Minogue, Algerian rai singer Khaled, Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder. | The nine-day-long event has featured such international stars as Kylie Minogue, Algerian rai singer Khaled, Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder. |
| Analysts say the nine-day-long Mawazine festival is one of several events aimed at promoting Morocco's image as a modern, tolerant nation. | Analysts say the nine-day-long Mawazine festival is one of several events aimed at promoting Morocco's image as a modern, tolerant nation. |
| But some of the country's Islamist politicians have denounced the concerts as encouraging immoral behaviour. | But some of the country's Islamist politicians have denounced the concerts as encouraging immoral behaviour. |
| Hurry to leave | Hurry to leave |
| The festival was drawing to a close when the stampede occurred. | The festival was drawing to a close when the stampede occurred. |
| Shortly after midnight on Sunday morning, thousands of spectators hurried to leave and a wire fence toppled over. | Shortly after midnight on Sunday morning, thousands of spectators hurried to leave and a wire fence toppled over. |
| According to police, five women, four men and two children died in the ensuing crush. | According to police, five women, four men and two children died in the ensuing crush. |
| Several people were taken to hospital after the incident | Several people were taken to hospital after the incident |
| Governor of Rabat Hassan Lamrani blamed the stampede on an attempt by some concert goers to rush out of the stadium by jumping security fences. | Governor of Rabat Hassan Lamrani blamed the stampede on an attempt by some concert goers to rush out of the stadium by jumping security fences. |
| "At the end of the concert and despite the existence of seven gates, a group of citizens decided to go over the metal barriers to have a quick exit," Mr Lamrani said. | "At the end of the concert and despite the existence of seven gates, a group of citizens decided to go over the metal barriers to have a quick exit," Mr Lamrani said. |
| But one of the dozens of concert-goers injured in the crush told Reuters news agency police were partly responsible for the incident. | But one of the dozens of concert-goers injured in the crush told Reuters news agency police were partly responsible for the incident. |
| "The doors were closed by the police and we were forced to leave the stadium from some places not destined for this purpose. The police did not intervene." | "The doors were closed by the police and we were forced to leave the stadium from some places not destined for this purpose. The police did not intervene." |
| Rescuers helped to pull out survivors and transport the injured to hospital, where seven people remain under observation, according to AFP news agency. | Rescuers helped to pull out survivors and transport the injured to hospital, where seven people remain under observation, according to AFP news agency. |
| Deadly crowd stampedes in Africa are usually associated with sports events, according to BBC North Africa correspondent Rana Jawad. | Deadly crowd stampedes in Africa are usually associated with sports events, according to BBC North Africa correspondent Rana Jawad. |
| But this is the second known incident of its kind in the region; in 2007 a stampede at a concert in Tunisia killed seven people. | But this is the second known incident of its kind in the region; in 2007 a stampede at a concert in Tunisia killed seven people. |