Dozen suspect letters in Morocco, all tested anthrax free, official

Some ten envelopes containing a white powder that were intercepted in Morocco over the past days were all tested anthrax free, the Moroccan ministry of the interior said Monday evening.

The ministry said in Morocco as in several other countries across the world, the anthrax fear leads some unbalanced people to sow confusion and send letters seemingly dangerous. The department reiterated that the authors of these misdeeds, that are alien to our traditions, are immature and irresponsible and will be sued and heavily sentenced as provided by the law.

Moroccan authorities insist that such acts cannot disturb the country's quietude and serenity and ask any recipient of a suspected letter or parcel to immediately refer to the nearest local authority, police or gendarmerie station, or civilians rescue center.

One of the authors of the suspected mail was identified last Friday. The man, a Casablanca-based entrepreneur, confessed having sent a threat letter to an industrialist. The police is carrying on investigations to find out potential links between the man and other mails sent to other persons or institutions, including the US embassy in Rabat and a relative of the Dutch ambassador in Morocco.