Morocco boosts security budget sharply

Draft Moroccan legislation has earmarked nearly 30% of the state's 2008 budget for security, underscoring anti-terrorism concerns after spring suicide attacks, a government source said on Saturday. The state is expected to pour about 45-billion dirhams ($5,8-billion) into security, a 29% boost from 2007.

Morocco irked as many cheer Spanish king

Thousands cheered to the boom of a 21-cannon salute welcoming Spain's king and queen to the North African enclave of Melilla on Tuesday, the second day of a trip that has seriously irked Morocco. The two-day visit is King Juan Carlos's first as head of state to Ceuta and Melilla, North African cities that are remnants of Spain's colonial empire.

King's visit stirs passions in Spanish enclave

Cheering crowds waved Spanish flags as King Juan Carlos visited Spain's disputed North African enclave of Ceuta on Monday, but hundreds of Moroccans demonstrated against him just across the border. With shouts of "Long live the King!" and "Ceuta is Spanish", thousands of locals roared their approval at Juan Carlos.

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