Fifteen people were crushed to death in a stampede at a mosque in Mali's desert city of Timbuktu, local police said today.
The incident occurred last night during the Muslim festival of Maouloud.
"Every year for Maouloud people come to the grand mosque, but this year construction blocked some of the roads," said Imam Abdramane ben Effayouti. "People took to narrow alleys, there was jostling, and the tragedy occured."
Police said that 15 people, including two children, were killed in the incident at the Djingareyber mosque - one of the most recognisable buildings in Timbuktu - and that another 41 people were injured.