Oct. 20
MOROCCO:
Death penalty sought in Morocco bombing trial
A Moroccan prosecutor requested the death penalty Thursday against 2 men
accused of roles in a cafe bombing at a Moroccan tourism destination that
killed 17 people — mostly foreigners.
8 people are on trial in Sale over the April 28 blast in the Argana cafe in
Marrakech's old town, which killed 8 French tourists in addition to British,
Swiss, Moroccan and Portuguese victims.
The state prosecutor asked the court to hand down the death penalty against
Adel al-Othmani, who is accused of disguising himself as a tourist and planting
the remotely-detonated bomb, and alleged accomplice Hakim Dah.
Defendants have denied the charges and said they were tortured into confessing.
Al-Othmani, who police say has loyalties to al-Qaida, recanted his confession
in court last month.
Reports by police and judicial investigators indicated witnesses had testified
that the defendants had bought chemicals used to build the bomb, the prosecutor
said.
A group of victims' relatives opposes any death penalty in the case.
Most of the defendants denied knowing or having any doings with al-Othmani.
One, however, said he had spoken with him and knew that he had traveled to
Turkey and Chechnya for jihad.
The attack shook relatively peaceful Morocco, a staunch U.S. ally that drew
nearly 10 million tourists last year to its sandy beaches, desert and mountain
landscapes, and historic sites.
The trial resumes Oct. 27 with defense arguments.
(source: Associated Press)
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