CASABLANCA BOMBERS ESCAPE

NINE ISLAMIC JIHADISTS convicted over the Casablanca bombings that killed 45 people in 2003, including one facing the death sentence, tunnelled their way out of a Moroccan prison early Monday, officials said.

The Kenitra "prison administration noted the escape Monday morning and all measures have been taken to find the escaped prisoners and establish who was responsible," the justice ministry said in a statement quoted by the MAP state news agency. The Casablanca bombings were the deadliest ever in Morocco, killing 45 people including 12 suicide bombers, and injuring scores more.

An official representing a group looking after the welfare of jailed Islamic militants said the fugitives had escaped from the Kenitra prison north of Rabat after dawn prayers at 5:30 AM local time.

Abderrahim Mahtade of the Annasir association said one of the nine had been sentenced to death, six others to life imprisonment and two were given 20 years in jail, and all came from Casablanca.

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