Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RABAT1478
2007-09-17 16:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:
MOROCCO RAMPS DOWN SECURITY THREAT LEVEL
how-toVZCZCXRO9523 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHRB #1478 2601637 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 171637Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY RABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7420 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 3085 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3390 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 5785 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 4768 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 3489
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001478
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2017
TAGS: PTER MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO RAMPS DOWN SECURITY THREAT LEVEL
Classified by Polcouns Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001478
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2017
TAGS: PTER MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO RAMPS DOWN SECURITY THREAT LEVEL
Classified by Polcouns Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (SBU) Morocco's Interior Ministry announced September 15
that it was lowering its state of alert from "maximum" to
"medium." The Interior Minister was subsequently quoted in
the press explaining that the decision to ramp down was made
for the same reasons that they had initially raised the
threat. At the time the threat was raised, on July 5, MOI
officials cited a continuing flow of credible threat
reporting, including information from foreign governments,
plus the approach of key events on Morocco's political
calendar: Throne Day (July 30),the King's Birthday (August
21),and the Parliamentary Elections (September 7). These
events have all since passed without any significant security
incidents. MOI's September 15 announcement urged citizens
to remain vigilant against a continuing general threat from
terrorists.
2. (C) Comment: The GOM's move may reflect in part the
practical need of security services to ramp down its
personnel deployments during the Islamic fasting month of
Ramadan, which began September 14. We expect that the GOM
will nonetheless retain an active and aggressive CT posture,
particularly given the latest flare up of AQIM activity in
Algeria. End comment.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
RILEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2017
TAGS: PTER MO
SUBJECT: MOROCCO RAMPS DOWN SECURITY THREAT LEVEL
Classified by Polcouns Craig Karp for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
1. (SBU) Morocco's Interior Ministry announced September 15
that it was lowering its state of alert from "maximum" to
"medium." The Interior Minister was subsequently quoted in
the press explaining that the decision to ramp down was made
for the same reasons that they had initially raised the
threat. At the time the threat was raised, on July 5, MOI
officials cited a continuing flow of credible threat
reporting, including information from foreign governments,
plus the approach of key events on Morocco's political
calendar: Throne Day (July 30),the King's Birthday (August
21),and the Parliamentary Elections (September 7). These
events have all since passed without any significant security
incidents. MOI's September 15 announcement urged citizens
to remain vigilant against a continuing general threat from
terrorists.
2. (C) Comment: The GOM's move may reflect in part the
practical need of security services to ramp down its
personnel deployments during the Islamic fasting month of
Ramadan, which began September 14. We expect that the GOM
will nonetheless retain an active and aggressive CT posture,
particularly given the latest flare up of AQIM activity in
Algeria. End comment.
*****************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
*****************************************
RILEY