vgeld
21-11-04, 21:13
RABAT, Nov. 12 - 210 nationals from the estimated 1200 strong Moroccan community in Cote d'Ivoire have been evacuated from the strife-torn country aboard three military C-130 planes dispatched by Morocco on Thursday.
Authorities in Rabat decided to evacuate all those nationals wishing to flee the West African country where the turmoil has claimed at least 27 lives and wounded more than 900.
They were greeted upon arrival early Friday in Rabat by Omar Azziman, chairman of the Hassan II Foundation for Moroccans Living Abroad and by local authorities who told MAP the evacuation was ordered by the monarch to preserve the life of the Moroccans and ensure their security.
A representative of the Moroccan community living in San Pedro said no one was hurt during the six days violence there.
Morocco and other western countries, in particular France, started to evacuate their nationals to rescue them from rampaging mobs targeting expatriates.
Violence erupted after the Ivory Coast's air force killed nine French peacekeepers and an American aid worker in a bombing raid on the rebel-held north last week, breaking an 18 month ceasefire between the Government of President Gbagbo and rebels.
In retaliation, France launched its own bombing raid on Saturday, wiping out most of its former colony's warplanes on the tarmac -and provoking a violent anti-French uprising of looting, burning and attacks by loyalist youths.
© MAP 2004
Authorities in Rabat decided to evacuate all those nationals wishing to flee the West African country where the turmoil has claimed at least 27 lives and wounded more than 900.
They were greeted upon arrival early Friday in Rabat by Omar Azziman, chairman of the Hassan II Foundation for Moroccans Living Abroad and by local authorities who told MAP the evacuation was ordered by the monarch to preserve the life of the Moroccans and ensure their security.
A representative of the Moroccan community living in San Pedro said no one was hurt during the six days violence there.
Morocco and other western countries, in particular France, started to evacuate their nationals to rescue them from rampaging mobs targeting expatriates.
Violence erupted after the Ivory Coast's air force killed nine French peacekeepers and an American aid worker in a bombing raid on the rebel-held north last week, breaking an 18 month ceasefire between the Government of President Gbagbo and rebels.
In retaliation, France launched its own bombing raid on Saturday, wiping out most of its former colony's warplanes on the tarmac -and provoking a violent anti-French uprising of looting, burning and attacks by loyalist youths.
© MAP 2004