World News | 2 Men on Water Scooters Killed by Algerian Forces, According to Moroccan Media
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. Two men were killed by Algerian forces after they strayed across Morocco's maritime border with Algeria on water scooters, and a third was detained by Algerian authorities, according to Moroccan media reports.
Rabat (Morocco), Sep 1 (AP) Two men were killed by Algerian forces after they strayed across Morocco's maritime border with Algeria on water scooters, and a third was detained by Algerian authorities, according to Moroccan media reports.
The border has long been closed because of deep tensions between the two North African neighbours, linked to the disputed territory of Western Sahara among other issues. Deadly run-ins on the maritime border are rare.
Also Read | Joe Biggs, Leader of ‘Proud Boys’, Gets 17-Year Prison Term in US Capitol Riot Case.
A French citizen was among those killed in the standoff Tuesday, and the detained man is also French, the French Foreign Ministry said Friday.
Moroccan media reports said the men involved were French-Moroccan dual citizens.
Also Read | Krafton Expanding Gaming Portfolio in India, Announces Plans to Launch New Games.
The Paris prosecutor's office has been informed about the incident, the French ministry said in a statement, adding that it is up to judicial authorities to determined what happened.
The French government is in contact with the families of the French citizens as well as with Moroccan and Algerian authorities, it said.
Algerian police and coast guard officials did not respond to requests for comment.
Mohamed Kissi told Moroccan news website 360.ma that he, his brother Bilal and two friends were on vacation and riding personal watercraft off the coast of the Moroccan town of Saaidia when night began to fall.
“We were low on gas for the water scooters and were drifting. In the darkness, we found ourselves in Algerian waters,” he told 360.ma, known as close to the Moroccan royal palace.
He said a speedboat carrying armed forces with the word "Algeria” on its side approached the water scooter his brother was riding and they exchanged words.
Kissi said the Algerian forces then fired on the group, and his brother was killed along with friend Abdelali Mechouer, according to 360.ma.
Their other friend was wounded and detained by Algerian forces, Kissi said. He said he swam to escape until he was rescued by Moroccan maritime police.
The website published a video of the funeral for Bilal Kissi on Thursday in the Moroccan border town of Bni Drar.
It said Mechouer's family is seeking repatriation of his body, recovered by Algerian forces.
Asked Thursday about the confrontation, Moroccan government spokesperson Mustapha Baitas said that "these issues are within the jurisdiction of the judicial authority,'' and would not provide further comment. (AP)
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)