Congo-Brazzaville mourns victims of stampede

Congo-Brazzaville has been observing a day of mourning after 31 people died in a stampede during an army recruitment drive at a stadium in the capital on Monday night.

The government ordered that flags fly at half-mast and drinking places shut as a mark of respect for the victims.

The government initially announced that 37 people had died in the stampede, but later revised the figure to 31.

About 145 people were injured, with 15 still in hospital.

An investigation is under way into the cause of the stampede.

Local sources told the BBC that young people aged between 18 and 25 years had gone in huge numbers at the stadium in Brazzaville in the hope of being recruited into the army.

Around 42% of young people are unemployed in Congo-Brazzaville, with many seeing the army as one of the few places where they can secure a job.

The army said it had suspended recruitment in Brazzaville following the stampede.