Seven Killed In Stage Stampede

Seven young people were killed in a crowd rush at an open-air concert in Tunisia featuring acts from the Arab version of "American Idol."

A Tunisian health minister confirmed the death toll and said a further 32 were injured after the crowd surged toward the stage .

The accident happened April 30th at a concert reportedly attended by a crowd of 10,000 in the southern city of Sfax.

Six young males between the ages of 12 and 21 were trampled to death, while one young girl whose age hasn’t been released died overnight from her injuries.

Seven of the 32 people hospitalized were said to be under close medical supervision.

Some international newswires carried witness accounts saying the crowd surged when hometown contestant Marwa Bensghaier, who had come second in the most recent competition, began her performance.

Interior minister Rafik Haj Kacem and health minister Ridha Kechride have already visited the scene and an official investigation is under way.

The "Star Academy" competition, which is hosted by Lebanon’s LBC network, is in its fourth edition and has drawn a huge following among youths across the Arab world.

A follow-up concert scheduled for May 5th was canceled within 24 hours of the Sfax tragedy.