RABAT: Morocco on Friday extended a halt on international passenger flights until the end of January as it tries to rein in surging cases of the omicron coronavirus variant.
The National Office of Airports (ONDA) announced that “the suspension of all passenger flights to and from Morocco will be extended until January 31, 2022.”
Rabat imposed the measure to run initially from late November until December 31, although a mechanism had been in place for Moroccan citizens stranded abroad to come home.
But on Thursday Rabat stopped that mechanism, meaning the de facto closure of the country’s borders.
Now the only passenger movements allowed are one-off repatriation flights for foreign citizens in the kingdom, authorized on a case-by-case basis by Rabat.
The government has also banned all New Year’s Eve celebrations and reimposed a nighttime curfew.
Festivals and cultural gatherings have been banned since the start of the month.
The restrictions have dealt a punishing blow to the North African country’s vital tourism sector, already on its knees after two lost seasons because of the pandemic.
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Morocco extends flight ban because of virus
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Morocco extends flight ban because of virus
- The suspension of all passenger flights to and from Morocco will be extended until January 31
- The government has also banned all New Year's Eve celebrations
Daesh group militants clash with police during raid in Turkiye, wounding 7 officers
- The clash broke out Monday in Yalova province as police stormed a house where the militants were hiding, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency
- Last week, police detained 115 militants allegedly planning attacks targeting Christmas and New Year’s celebrations
ANKARA: Militants of the Daesh group opened fire on police and wounded seven officers during a raid on the group in northwest Turkiye on Monday, the country’s state-run media reported.
The clash broke out in Yalova province, south of Istanbul, as police stormed a house where the militants were hiding, Anadolu Agency said.
Special forces from neighboring Bursa province were dispatched to reinforce the operation.
Anadolu said none of the wounded officers were in serious condition.
Last week, police launched scores of simultaneous raids, detaining 115 militants of the extremist group who were allegedly planning attacks targeting Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. Officials said the group had called for action, particularly against non-Muslims, during the celebrations.
Daesh has carried out a series of deadly attacks in Turkiye in recent years, including a shooting at an Istanbul nightclub during New Year celebrations on Jan. 1, 2017, which killed 39 people.
The clash broke out in Yalova province, south of Istanbul, as police stormed a house where the militants were hiding, Anadolu Agency said.
Special forces from neighboring Bursa province were dispatched to reinforce the operation.
Anadolu said none of the wounded officers were in serious condition.
Last week, police launched scores of simultaneous raids, detaining 115 militants of the extremist group who were allegedly planning attacks targeting Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. Officials said the group had called for action, particularly against non-Muslims, during the celebrations.
Daesh has carried out a series of deadly attacks in Turkiye in recent years, including a shooting at an Istanbul nightclub during New Year celebrations on Jan. 1, 2017, which killed 39 people.
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