King Hassan II's death elicits widespread sorrow
The Moroccan news agency yesterday broadcast an official statement saying that King Hassan II was moved to Ebn Sina hospital in Rabat yesterday afternoon, due to severe pneumonitis that needed great care and supervising for heart and lungs, then Moroccan television began to broadcast Quran verses, as King El-Hassan died at half past four of a heart attack. Following announcing the death of King El-Hassan, the reactions began as follows.
On Friday afternoon, thousands of shocked Moroccans rallied near the Royal palace in Rabat to grief the late sovereign.
Thousands of citizens of all ages and social layers marched in the main streets of the capital city, and in other cities throughout the country crying, shouting and praying for the rest of the soul of the late King Hassan II.
Shops and cafes closed and verses of the holy Quran were heard everywhere.
In Cairo, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak received the news with great sorrow and grief, as there were great strong relations between the two leaders.
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia expressed its great sorrow over the death of king Hassan.
Describing King El-Hassan, the Saudi Press Agency said that he was one of the national leaders who played a major role on the Arab and Islamic levels, and he was greatly concerned with hosting Arab and Islamic summits to find solutions to issues and challenges facing the Arab states, at the top of which comes the issue of Jerusalem.
Tunis, Cairo, Yemen and Libya decided to announce mourning for three days beginning from today.
After the announcement of the death of King Hassan formally in Gaza, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and his leadership lamented yesterday evening the death of King Hassan, announcing mourning for three days.
In Khartoum, Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir described the late king as a good and loyal friend who was the prophet of peace between nations.
US President Bill Clinton phoned King Mohammed immediately after the announcement of the death of his father, where Clinton expressed his sorrow and paid and his condolences to King Mohammed, pointing out that King Hassan's death is a great loss not only for Arab people but for Middle East as a whole. Clinton added that the region has lost one of its greatest peacemarkers.
In Paris, French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin released a statement in which he expressed his country's sorrow, describing King Hassan as the man of Morocco toward modernism.
In London, the royal palace and Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed their grief for the death of King Hassan.
In Madrid, King Juan Carlos sent his condolences to King Mohammed, expressing his sorrow and describing late King Hassan as a historical character.
In Cairo, Arab League Assistant Secretary General Ahmed Ben Hali said in press statements that the death of the Moroccan monarch was a great shock and loss for the whole world.
In the occupied territories, Israeli Minister of Regional Cooperation Shimon Peres praised the contributions of the late king to Middle East peace, deeming his death as a great loss.