Ghana declared three days of national mourning for the people who died in a soccer stampede – at least 126 – the third worst football stadium tragedy of all time and Africa’s third such disaster in a month.

The authorities promised there would be an inquiry as survivors blamed police for triggering the panic by firing teargas after fans threw objects near the end of Wednesday’s game between Ghana’s two leading teams, arch-rivals Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko.

As news of the tragedy flashed across the world, thousands of grieving relatives besieged a mortuary searching for loved ones.

Bodies were laid on the floor of the morgue for identification. Many of the dead were either crushed to death or suffocated.

At least 126 had been reported dead by officials at six hospitals in the capital. Local Joy FM radio said at least 130 people had died.

Witnesses at the stadium said that with Hearts of Oak leading 2-1 after two quick goals near the end of the game, Asante Kotoko fans began breaking up chairs and throwing them on to the pitch. Police reacted by firing teargas, triggering a rush for the exits in the packed 50,000-capacity stadium.

“There were lots of people on top of me. One guy started foaming at the mouth and another had blood coming out of his mouth,” said Ebenezer Nortey, an electrical technician.

The head of the police, Inspector General Ernest Owusu-Poku, said an internal investigation had been launched. “We’re not going to shield anybody,” he said.

The world soccer body, Fifa, said yesterday that Africa’s suitability as a World Cup finals venue depended on better stadium safety.

Forty-three soccer fans were crushed to death when fans tried to force their way into the Ellis Park ground in Johannesburg, and at least seven people died and 51 were seriously injured in a stampede in the Democratic Republic of Congo after police moved to break up rioting at a match in Lubumbashi.

Bitter rivalry has long marked games between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko, two of Africa’s big football names. Reute

Ghanaians will never forget this horrible bay date month and year 9TH MAY 2001..