Headlines from the region

US angry over Americans being expelled from Morocco

The U.S. ambassador to Morocco has expressed dismay over the expulsion of Americans accused of trying to convert Moroccans to Christianity in the North African kingdom.

The episode, involving several other foreign nationals, threatened to overshadow U.S. praise on Friday for Morocco’s recent steps to improve human rights, women’s rights and democracy.

A charitable group called the Village of Hope, a home for orphaned and unwanted children in northern Morocco, said Thursday that 16 of its workers were ordered on Monday to leave the country.

Algeria: foreigners barred from fishing bluefin tuna

Algeria has decided to exclude “foreign operators” of the next fishing season for bluefin tuna in waters under its jurisdiction in favor of nationals, said Sunday the Algerian APS agency, quoting the Ministry of Fisheries.

“From this year (2010), foreign operators are not allowed to participate in the commercial fishing season for bluefin tuna in waters under the jurisdiction of Algeria,” said the ministry, which added that “This operation is reserved only for nationals.”

Palestinian President arrives in Tunisia for visit

On the invitation of President Ben Ali, the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Executive Committee and Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas arrived on Thursday afternoon in Tunis, for a work visit on March 12-13, 2010.

Mr. Mahmoud Abbas and the delegation accompanying him were met at the Tunis- Carthage International Airport, by the Minister of State Special Advisor to the President of the Republic and Official Spokesman for the Presidency of the Republic, Mr. Abdelaziz Ben Dhia and the Palestinian ambassador in Tunis.

Algeria Beats Libya In First CHAN Qualifier

An Algerian national team composed solely of domestic players and coached by Abdelhak Ben Chikha defeated their Libyan visitors 1-0 in Kolea yesterday thanks to a goal by Youssef Ghazali. The match was the first leg of the double confrontation between the two North African nations which will decide who will qualify for the second editions of the African Championship of Nations which will be hosted by Sudan in 2011.

French are freed in Sudan

Two French aid workers were freed in Darfur on Sunday after being held hostage for nearly four months, France’s government said.

The two were working for a French charity, Triangle Generation Humanitaire, when they were kidnapped in November 2009 in the Central African Republic, across the border from Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in a statement that the two had been freed and were heading to the Sudanese capital Khartoum. He did not give their names or details of their release.

BM