Morocco: Protesters demand aid for Syrians

Moroccan groups have called for a massive rally in Rabat's Al-Saha square on March 18 in support of Syria's pro-democracy protests. Demonstrators urged Moroccan authorities to expel the Syrian ambassador in Morocco and called for opening an airlift service to transfer emergency aid to battered areas of Syria. "The Moroccan coalition for supporting Syria" said: "Morocco is ready to give martyrs for defending the Syrian lands and people, The Tomb of Moroccan Martyrs in Syria is a well-known example." The statement was made in a conference attended by representatives of human rights groups, youth groups, civil society organisations as well as representatives of the Syrian community in Morocco. Mostafa Moshtari, a coalition coordinator said: "It should be a huge protest, and a strong message of solidarity with Syrian people against the suppression of President Bashar Al-Assad's regime. We will do everything possible to alleviate the suffering of innocents and support opposition groups in Syria." In conjuction, participating youth movements sent letters to Moroccan PM Abdelilah Benkirane,? Foreign affairs minister Saad Othmani and parliament chief Karim Ghalab, asking to hold a meeting with them on the back of the campaign to expel the Syrian ambassador. An internet signature campaign is to be organised too, as well as an oratorical festival on March 18 in Casablanca's Nivada square. A tent will also be built there to spread awareness of the situation. For their part, "The Moroccan youth committee for supporting Syrian people" organised a trip to south Turkey in solidarity with Syrian refugees there. The committee also assigned specialised lawyers to charge Assad with crimes against humanity. A representative of the commitee said: "The committee is open to all Moroccans."