BBC correspondent refutes report on clash with shopping-center cashier in rabat

BBC correspondent in Rabat Nicolas Pelhams refuted content of the report on an incident which opposed him Sunday to a cashier at the city shopping center "Marjane."

Pelham wrote MAP which circulated the news saying he was beaten up by Marjane security and that he never aggressed the cashier nor caused any damage as announced by police sources.

The reporter said that after argument over a defective telephone, under valid guarantee and which Marjane refused to honor, security agents beat him up, kicked him and dragged him on the floor 150 meters adding this was an aggression by security agents who seemed to "act in impunity." He was later locked up in a room, Pelham went on to say pointing out he suffered from injuries at the chest, back and shoulders.

Pelham's version of the story was corroborated by the head of the American chamber of commerce Simon O'Rourke who was on site when the incident took place. O'Rourke confirmed maltreatment by security and said the lady-cashier was not taken to the hospital, that she was not seriously hurt and that the telephone hurled by Pelham accidentally hit her on the chin, MAP reported.