Timbuktu, Mali - At least 36 people were killed in a crush at a stadium in Mali's capital, Bamako, on Monday night. The stampede occurred as Muslims surged forward to seek blessings from a renowned imam.
Another 70 people were injured in the incident at the Modibo Keita stadium, which seats 25,000 people.
Imam Osman Madani Haidara had just delivered his sermon in honour of the birthday of Islamic prophet Mohammed when the crowd pushed towards him.
Most of the victims were crushed against metal fencing, according to security officials.
The majority of those killed were women - 27 of the 36 dead.
Last year during the same festival, 26 people died in a stampede at a mosque in Mali's north-western city of Timbuktu.