Moroccan News Briefs published in The View From Fez draw on open source material, contributions from readers, as well as material from Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP), Morocco Times and official Moroccan Government press releases.
Morocco to abolish national military service
On Thursday the Moroccan government inacted a law to abolish national military service. The initiatuve came from a decision by HM King Mohammed VI. The measure will be retroactive as of 4 August, though Moroccans currently serving should complete it according to existing legislation.
Casablanca port authorities seize 4.5 tonnes of cannabis
Customs and anti-drug brigade agents at the Casablanca port seized 4.5 tonnes of cannabis. The drugs, loaded in a container with cleaning detergents, were valued at 46m dirhams. According to Casablanca port authorities, the seizure is the biggest since the 560kg confiscated in June.
Fourth woman arrested part of investigation into 'Ansar Al Mahdi' terror cell.
A fourth woman was arrested in the last 24 hours, part of the investigations into the "Ansar Al Mahdi" terror cell, recently dismantled by security services, Moroccan Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa said on Thursday.
Speaking at a press briefing, Benmoussa said the woman was in contact with the spouse of Karim Mejjati, former member of Al-Qaeda who was killed in April 2005 by Saudi security forces.
Three women had been lately arrested, including two married to pilots of the "Royal Air Maroc" carrier.
The minister also affirmed that there is no infiltration of the military and security forces, noting that the number of arrested militaries and security service elements is "insignificant".
Moroccan security services had, earlier this month, announced that they had dismantled a terrorist cell called "Jamaat Ansar Al Mehdi" that intended to wage Jihad (religious war) in Morocco.
52 members of this group have been arrested so far, including four women.
The cell was set up by Hassan Khattab, who after serving a two-year sentence in prison had had contacts with a group of individuals grouped in several cells in Salé, Sidi Yahia Gharb, Sidi Slimane, Youssoufia and Casablanca.
Violent storms cause death and damage in Ourika
A 45-year-old woman died and a 9-year-old boy disappeared following violent bursts of thunderstorm on Tuesday on the mountainsides of the Setti-Fadma valley, Ourika (near Marrakech). About twenty cars were also damaged. The flow of Ourika River reached the rate of 286 m3/s.
The alert was given at the right time by the flood alert system (SPAC) set up in Irghef station, warning the local population through loudspeakers to evacuate immediately the area concerned.
The alert allowed a considerable of human lives to be saved.
The flood caused the closure of provincial road n° 2017 linking Marrakech to Setti-Fadma between km 51 and 63.
Haj Youness, persona non grata in US
The famous Moroccan lutist, Haj Youness, was refused a visa to the US, mainly because of his name, reported the Moroccan daily L'Economiste. The American consulate in Casablanca refused to grant the artist a visa in order to carry out “complementary investigations”.
“The computer did not accept me,” said the artist with irony.
Perhaps the artist's name, M'Hamed Haj Youness, aroused the suspicion of the computer. Perhaps it resembles that of a wanted terrorist.
“He was not refused a visa. It is rather a normal process required by the American State Department for more information,” said David Ranz, press attaché in the American embassy in Rabat.
“We are still waiting for the results and we do not know how much time the process will take,” he added.
The Moroccan lutist, Haj Youness, was invited by an American non-governmental cultural organisation dubbed “Genesis at the crossroad”.
Some cultural agreements were expected to be signed for this occasion.
The artist was expected to animate two concerts on Aug. 24 in Chicago and on Aug. 28 in Washington, which are part of the international programme of cultural exchange “Artlink”.
Tags: Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
No comments:
Post a Comment