Thanks Oorang.
Updates appreciated (re rockets in California).
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Islamist denies plot to overthrow Moroccan king
July 20, 2007
Rabat: A Moroccan Islamist charged with leading a cell that plotted to overthrow the country's monarchy yesterday said the accusations were trumped up. Taking the witness stand for the first time after almost a year behind bars, Hassan Khattab said he only knew a handful of the 49 other suspected members in the courtroom in Sale near the capital Rabat.
"The United States is imperialist," he said. "I say to Bush we are coming to attack you. One day we will manage to wipe you out."
The 50 have been behind bars since they were rounded up in swoops on five towns in August last year and charged with belonging to a terrorist cell named Ansar Al Mehdi (Mehdi Partisans) that undermined public order and collected money to fund attacks.
Prosecutors say they wanted to topple the monarchy and set up an Islamist state. If convicted, they face up to 30 years in prison. "I have nothing in connection with most of these people," Khattab said.
http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Morocco/10140736.html
Morocco arrests two reporters and army officer over leaked Al Qaida plot
July 20, 2007
Rabat: Morocco authorities detained two journalists and put an army officer under arrest over what the government described as leaked top secret intelligence information over an Al Qaida plot, officials said yesterday.
"The Royal Armed Forces officer was put under arrest later on Thursday and several other officers have been heard over the case," said a government official. The unnamed officer will go on trial when the probe into the leak of the information was completed, he said.
Two journalists were detained for publishing the information in the Arabic-language weekly Al Watan Alaan (The Homeland Now) last week. "Al Watan managing director Abul Rahim Ariri and journalist Mustapaha Hourmat Allah are still in police custody since their arrest on Tuesday," Al Watan reporter Mounir Ketaoui said.
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