Morocco denounces aggression against Moroccans participating in world youth festival in Algiers
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 8/10/2001

Morocco has strongly denounced the aggression perpetrated Wednesday against 10 Moroccan youth participating in the world youth festival, held in Algiers, by separatist mercenaries and protested the poor security conditions.

A statement by the Moroccan ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation said "the Moroccan government strongly denounces the acts of violence that targeted members of the Moroccan delegation participating in the 15th world youth and student festival, currently held in Algiers, on the part of separatist mercenaries and the injuries inflicted on ten Moroccan young participants."

The Moroccan government also "protests the fact that the authorities of the host country did not gather the necessary security conditions that must be guaranteed to all participants in an international encounter of such a scope and such a level," the statement said.

Morocco's embassy in Algiers immediately took the necessary measures to give first aid to the ten members of the Moroccan delegation, three of whom having suffered fractures in their arms and the other seven various wounds.

The ambassador of Algeria in Rabat was summoned by the ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation to tell him "the Moroccan government's protest following the aggressions and injuries suffered by the Moroccan young people in Algiers and its condemnation of the acts of characterized aggression perpetrated openly and publicly before the delegations participating in the opening ceremony of the festival, and in the absence of the necessary conditions of security that should have been ensured by the authorities of the host country," the statement went on.

"It has been decided to call back the Moroccan delegation and to hold the organizing authorities responsible for this withdrawal," the statement said.

A 142-member delegation representing Moroccan parties' youth associations was participating in the world youth festival staged in Algiers August 8 through 16.

Meantime, The Moroccan delegation to the 15th world youth festival withdrew from the festival following the aggression perpetrated against some of its members by separatist mercenaries, during the event opening ceremony Wednesday, and left Algiers this Friday morning back home.

Meantime, King Mohammed VI has issued his high instructions to hospitalize the Moroccan young people, victim of aggressions during the opening ceremony of the world youth festival in Algiers, in best conditions in Morocco.

A statement by the Moroccan ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation said following the physical injuries inflicted by separatist mercenaries on ten members of the Moroccan delegation participating in the 15th world youth and students festival, currently held in Algiers, king Mohammed VI issued his high instructions to take care of the victims and to secure their hospitalization in Morocco is best conditions.

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