UPDATE 2-Nigeria presidential rally ends in deadly stampede

Reuters

12 Feb 2011

UPDATE 2-Nigeria presidential rally ends in deadly stampede
* Local official says 11 killed in stampede
* Thousands crammed into stadium in oil city

* President orders investigation

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Feb 12 (Reuters) - At least 11 people were trampled to death on Saturday in a stampede at an election campaign rally for Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in the southern oil city of Port Harcourt.

Thousands of ruling party supporters crowded into a sports stadium to hear Jonathan speak and hundreds more gathered around the gates. There was a stampede after a policeman fired into the air to try to disperse the crush as people left, witnesses said.

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"There was a huge crowd, the place was completely full," Ken Saro-Wiwa, Jonathan's special assistant on international affairs, told Reuters.

"As the convoys were leaving, more people were trying to come in and there was a stampede when the gates were opened ... It is a sad end to what had been a great day," he said.

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) rally in Port Harcourt came at the end of a week-long tour by Jonathan of the six main regions in Africa's most populous nation ahead of presidential, parliamentary and state governorship elections in April.

Jonathan is the first head of state from the Niger Delta, of which Port Harcourt is the main city, and is considered the front-runner in the presidential race.