JAILED ISLAMIC MILITANTS ON HUNGER STRIKE

Many of the 700 Islamic militants sentenced to jail terms following the 2003 terrorist attacks in Casablanca are on hunger strike, the director of the Moroccan prisons department Mohammed Abdenabaoui said. "Approximatly 300 Islamic inmates are on hunger strike in seven different prisons," he was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. The inmates are demanding new trials and to be set free.

The hunger strike reportedly begun on 29 May to coincide with a conference on the reintegration of prisoners organised by the Mohammed VI Foundation.

Some 2,000 Islamic militants were arrested after terrorist attacks on Casablanca left 45 dead on May 16, 2003. Seven hundred are still in jail, Abdenabaoui said.