More than 60 people, including dozens of children, were trampled to death in a New Year's stampede in the African nation of Ivory Coast, also known as Cote d'Ivoire.
The victims were crushed or suffocated in a surge of bodies during a fireworks celebration for New Year's Eve in the city of Abidjan. Many of the dead were young children who had left their homes to see the fireworks display at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium while their parents stayed at home.
In total, 26 children were killed, along with 28 women and six men. Another 40 people were injured, two of them severely.
Rescue workers arrived two hours later, but were unable to save anyone.
Officials said they did not know what triggered the stampede, but one of the injured told Reuters the crowd panicked after security showed up to break up the celebration, which had lasted long into the night.
"My two children came here yesterday," said Assetou Toure. "I told them not to come but they didn't listen. They came when I was sleeping. What will I do?"
Police said the parents of victims are at local hospitals.
Cote d'Ivoire was once a prosperous economic power in West Africa, until former president Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down after losing the 2010 election to Alassane Ouattara.
This sparked a civil war which killed more than 3,000 people. Eventually, the United Nations intervened, and forces loyal to Ouattara captured Gbagbo in 2011.
Gbagbo is currently in The Hague in the Netherlands, awaiting trail by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity for atrocities committed during the civil war, including "murder; rape and other sexual violence; persecution; and other inhuman acts."
The charges will be confirmed in February of 2013, though the trial may continue to be delayed because of concerns about Gbagbo's deteriorating health.
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