Twelve Dead in African Soccer Stampede

H A R A R E, Zimbabwe, July 9 -- — Police fired tear gas at unruly fansduring a World Cup qualifying soccer game today between Zimbabweand South Africa, setting off a stampede that killed 12 people.

“We have 12 bodies” as a result of the stampede, a policeofficer at Harare’s main hospital said on condition of anonymity. Adoctor said most of the deaths were from internal injuriesconsistent with being crushed.

Anxious relatives waiting for news milled around outsideParirenyatwa hospital’s emergency ward, where numerous injuredpatients were being treated. Hospital head Davison Sadza told stateradio the 12 were dead on arrival. Four stampede victims were incritical condition, and “many” were injured, he said.

Police ‘Overreact’

The incident began when fans hurled bottles and other items ontothe field after South Africa scored its second goal in the game’s84th minute, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead. Police then fired teargas at the crowd of more than 50,000, and a stampede broke out asthe fans scrambled to leave the National Sports Stadium.

A fire hydrant was torn from its mountings, spraying water overfleeing fans. Players writhed on the turf, choking and coveringtheir faces in an attempt to get away from the tear gas.

Officials at the game were outraged by the police action, whichthey described as a “total overreaction,” the South African PressAssociation reported.

The game, which South Africa officially won 2-0, was abandoned10 minutes before it was supposed to conclude.

South Africa Won't Host Cup

The violence came three days after South Africa was denied itsbid to become the first African country to hold the World Cup.Germany was awarded the 2006 tournament in a 12-11 vote by soccer’sruling body.

South Africa made it to the first round of the 1998 World Cupand placed third in this year’s African Nations Cup. Zimbabwe hasnever qualified for the World Cup and did not qualify for thisyear’s African Nations Cup.