20110213
presstv
A stampede at a campaign rally for Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in the Niger Delta region has killed 11 people and injured 29 others, police say.

The incident occurred in the oil city of Port Harcourt on Saturday after Jonathan addressed the crowd, according to witnesses.

A witness said a police officer shot into the air as the crowd surged out of the 20,000-seat stadium where Jonathan had spoken.

While the gunshots were apparently aimed at controlling the crowd, they instead created panic, with the main gate appearing locked and rally-goers attempting to leave through a narrow passageway.

A number of people were trampled in the rush and other exits to the stadium appeared locked with Jonathan still on the premises, witnesses said.

The police issued a statement asking people to come forward with information on the cause, without mentioning anything about an officer shooting into the air.

"The mishap was said to have been caused by a stampede as a result of a surging crowd which led to the death of 11 persons and causing injuries to about 29 others," the police said.

Jonathan, who is the first president from the Niger Delta region in the south of the country, issued a statement expressing grief over the incident.

"I am sad and heavily weighed down by this incident. It is sad, unfortunate, and regrettable," he said.

The Nigerian president ordered an investigation into the cause of the frenzied rush "that led to the unfortunate loss of some lives."

On Monday, Jonathan kicked off his campaign for the April 9 election and set off on a cross-country tour. Heavy security has been in place as Nigeria has been hit by a surge of violence in recent weeks.