Rights groups defends Morocco conference

The International Federation of Human Rights has defended its decision to hold a conference in Morocco, while expressing concern about the human rights situation there.

The head of the Paris-based Federation, Patrick Baudoin, said holding the gathering in Casablanca next week did not mean the group was endorsing official Moroccan policy.

He said the event would provide an opportunity for concerns to be conveyed to the authorities.

He added that a number of recent events indicated that the regime had become more authoritarian; these included police action to break up a human rights protest and the closure of three independent weekly papers. The Moroccan Prime Minister, Abderrahman Youssoufi, is due to open the conference.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service