Italians note uptick in illegal immigration

Middle East Times - Monday 17th June, 2013

As warm weather brings calmer seas, thousands of illegal immigrants are attempting to flee northern Africa for Europe, immigration officials say. That has caused some immigration centers to run far above normal capacity -- and has made for some tragic consequences on the Mediterranean Sea, the Italian news agency ANSA reported Monday. Sunday night, seven immigrants attempting to get to Italy ...

Morocco editor convicted for defamation

General Sources - Monday 17th June, 2013

Casablanca - A Moroccan editor was handed a two month suspended prison sentence on Monday for defamation, after writing that an Islamist minister had organised a lavish, alcohol-fuelled dinner during an official trip abroad.The court in a suburb of Casablanca also fined Youssef Jajili, the director of Al-Aan magazine, 50 000 dirhams (EUR4 500), and ordered him to pay a symbolic dirham to the ...

Algerian Extremist Leaders Death Confirmed

Prensa Latina - Monday 17th June, 2013

Nouakchott, Jun 17 (Prensa Latina) Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) confirmed the death of its Algerian leader Abou Zeid during combats in the French-African Serval operation, which aims at clearing Mali's north from radical guerrillas. "Abou Zeid and Mauritanian head of a combat unit Mohamed Lemine Ould El Hacen, known as Abdallah AC-Chinguity, died in the battlefield defending ...

Morocco journalist convicted of defaming Islamist minister

General Sources - Monday 17th June, 2013

CASABLANCA: A Moroccan editor was handed a two month suspended prison sentence on Monday for defamation, after writing that an Islamist minister had organised a lavish, alcohol-fuelled dinner during an official trip ...

Algerian foreign minister to visit Moscow June 24-26

Itar Tass - Monday 17th June, 2013

MOSCOW, June 17 (Itar-Tass) - Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci will visit Moscow on June 24-26, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Monday. "During the talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Mourad Medelci is planning to discuss the state of and prospects for the development of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries," ...

Gambia Arrives in Morocco

All Africa - Monday 17th June, 2013

Gambia senior Scorpions have landed in the city of Marrakesh for their return leg match against Morocco's Atlas Lions. Bottom place Gambia has little to gain in the return leg World Cup qualifier after spectacularly bowing out having lost on 6-0 aggregate to Ivory Coast in the tough bidding for a place in Brazil 2014. Bonu Johnson and his men are lodged at Hotel Du Golf in the North African ...

Gambia Out to Save Face in Morocco

All Africa - Monday 17th June, 2013

While hopes for a place in the World Cup is clearly watered down, Bonu Johnson and his troop will set out on making up for their early exit with a decent finishing in the Group. It will be a clear attempt to save face when the Scorpions lock into a battle tomorrow with the Atlas Lions of Morocco at the Marrakesh Stadium. Gambia has only a single point to contend with in a pool bossed by the ...

U.S. Encourages Negotiations Between Polisario Front and Morocco Says Sherman

All Africa - Monday 17th June, 2013

Algiers - The U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Ms. Wendy R. Sherman said today, Sunday, in Algiers that the United States encourages the parties (Polisario Front and Morocco) to negotiate for reaching a settlement to the Western Sahara conflict. Responding to a question on Western Sahara in a press conference held Sunday in Algiers, Ms. Sherman stated that the United States encourages ...

Polisario Front Praises Positions Expressed in Washington New York and Geneva

All Africa - Monday 17th June, 2013

Chahid Al Hafed - Bureau of the National Secretariat of the Polisario Front has recorded the success of the presidential visit made by the President of the Republic Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz to the United States and United Nations in the period from 5 and 11 June 2013, in a statement concluded Sunday its meeting. The statement noted that the President of the Republic and Secretary General of the ...

Morocco HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa Presides the Board of Directors of Mohammed Vi Foundation for Environmental Protection

All Africa - Monday 17th June, 2013

Marrakech - Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa chaired, on Friday in Marrakech, the Board of Directors of Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, in the presence of Board members, including the Minister of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment, M. Fouad Douiri, and the President of the General Confederation of Enterprises of Morocco (CGEM), Mrs. Miriem Bensalah ...

Salafists Take Up Politics in Morocco

All Africa - Monday 17th June, 2013

Rabat - A number of salafists just joined Moroccan political life, signing up with the Party of Renaissance and Virtue (PRV). On Saturday (June 8th), the Islamist party welcomed Mohamed Abdelouahab Rafiki (aka Abu Hafs), Naima Daher, Hicham Tamsamani, Jalal El Moudden, and Hassan Aasri to its ranks. According to political analyst Jamal Farhani, the move presents the same challenge for the PRV ...

HM the King Presides At the Royal School in Rabat Over the Ceremony Marking the End of the School Year 2012-2013

All Africa - Monday 17th June, 2013

Rabat - HM King Mohammed VI, accompanied by HRH Prince Moulay Rachid, HRH Princess Lalla Salma, HRH princess Lalla Meryem, HRH princess Lalla Hasnaa and HH Prince Moulay Ismail, presided, Saturday at the Royal School in the Royal Palace of Rabat, over the ceremony marking the end of the school year 2012-2013. The ceremony began with verses of the Holy Quran recited by HRH Crown Prince Moulay El ...