Morocco denies hosting ex-Tunisia president

Moroccan officials yesterday denied “baseless” rumours that the government had agreed to host former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in Rabat.

News360 quoted official sources as saying that “Ben Ali did not visit Morocco”.

“The claims about Saudi Arabia’s intention to deport Ben Ali to Morocco were rumours,” the sources added.

Several media agencies recently reported that the Saudi Arabia had decided to deport Ben Ali and his family to Morocco, noting that Rabat had agreed to host him. The Saudi government has not yet responded to the allegations.

Read: Tunisia brings first human rights trial against Ben Ali

In mid-May, the Tunisian judiciary sentenced Ben Ali in absentia to life imprisonment in a case of “premeditated murder” which took place during the 2011 uprising.

Other Tunisian courts have handed down a number of prison sentences against Ben Ali, his wife, Leila, and a number of his associates in corruption cases.

Following the Tunisian revolution, Ben Ali, his wife and two of their sons fled to Saudi Arabia where they have been living since 14 January 2011.