By Larbi Arbaoui
Morocco World News
Taroudant, August 10, 2013
In a newsflash aired earlier on Saturday, Sky News Arabic channel reported that 16 members of the Moroccan Royal Guard died this morning in northern Morocco, while 35 others were injured. The tragic accident, which left other 42 people wounded, took place in Echaouen province when the Royal Guard unit was on the road from Al Hoceima to Tetouan to prepare for King Mohammed VI's visit.
It is noteworthy that the link between the coastal strip of Tetouan and Al Hoceima is risky because of the mountainous nature of the region. The road accidents caused by military and security forces are not very common in Morocco.
In parliamentary session last March, Morocco’s head of government, Abdelilah Benkirane, said that road accidents cost the state a heavy bill estimated at 14 billion dirhams ($ 1,7 Billion) per year, 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He added that Morocco occupies the first rank in the Arab world, and 6th rank worldwide in road accidents.
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