Last year, 26 people died during a stampede while celebrating the same holiday at a mosque in the city of Timbuktu.

The pontiff expressed his "deep sorrow" at the deaths of two people killed in a stampede at the entrance of a stadium where he spoke late Saturday.

The ritual turned into tragedy when an 80-year-old woman died and eight others were injured in what was called a stampede in some media reports.

After that ritual it is not to be trod upon until practice resumes the following morning, though the young wrestler unthinkingly entered to pay his respects.

Cambodian authorities said the stampede tragedy will not stop the Water Festival, which will be continued in 2011.