Stampede in Angola

LUANDA. — Angola announced an investigation on Saturday into a stadium stampede that killed at least 17 and injured scores, as the nation’s president, the host team and witnesses blamed the deaths on police error.

Children were among the victims in what has been described as the country’s worst football tragedy, with some witnesses confirming that many fans did not have tickets for the match on Friday.

“It was a serious error to allow so many people get so close to the stadium. Many people didn’t have a ticket and that created confusion,” Angolan President Eduardo dos Santos said.

Several witnesses accused the police of having provoked panic by attempting to disperse a crowd outside the ground on Friday with tear gas.

“It’s the police who created the confusion,” Olavo Castigo, who was at the ground, said.

“It was badly organised. They threw tear gas which provoked the crowd,” he added.

The government has set up a commission to probe the crush, the national Angop news agency reported.

“Several children have been killed,” police spokesman Orlando Bernardo said.

“There was a blockage at the entrance to the January 4 stadium,” he said.

“This obstruction caused multiple fatalities -- 17 deaths, and there are 56 injured in the hospital.”

A second commission will help families of those who died and assist in organising funerals.

The deaths occurred during a domestic league match between host side Santa Rita de Cassia and Recreativo de Libolo in the northern town of Uige on the opening day of the season. —