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17:43 Mecca time, 14:43 GMT
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News Africa
Morocco bombers in jail break
The 2003 bombings in Casablanca were Morocco's deadliest, killing 45 people [File: GALLO/GETTY]
Nine Moroccan men jailed over the bombings in the city of Casablanca that killed at least 45 people in 2003, have escaped from prison, officials say.
 
Abderrahim Mahtade, president of the Annasir association, a prisoner-rights advocacy group, said the men escaped from the Kenitra prison, north of Rabat, after dawn prayers on Monday.
One of the men was reportedly on death row.
 
Six others were given life sentences and two were given 20 years in jail.
 
They all came from Casablanca.
 
According to a source at the ministry of the interior, the prisoners tunnelled their way out of the prison compound.
"They literally saw the light at the end of the tunnel in the early hours [of] today," the source said.

The prisoners were fasting on Monday to protest against what they called "mistreatment and repression" by prison officials.

'Apology letter'
 
Mahtade said the men had left a letter complaining of what they saw as the "injustices" of the Moroccan legal system.

"We had tried every way to end this injustice and we knocked on all doors for that without result. The only way left for us is to do that [breakout]. We hope that you will understand," the letter said.

"We apologise for the disturbance we have caused. That was the only solution." 

Human rights groups say that Morocco's prisons are overcrowded and most of the 60,000 prisoners complain of lack of decent food and access to healthcare.

Detainees found to have links to anti-government Muslim groups want to be given "political prisoner status" which would allow them better conditions.
 Source: Agencies
 
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