American Missionary expelled from Morocco

Morocco has expelled a foreign missionary for "openly converting people to Christianity," the interior ministry said on Friday, a month after five Christian priests were kicked out for the same reason.

"The missionary targeted a group of 14 Moroccans," in the town of Imizmiz, 55 kilometres (35 miles) south of Marrakech, a statement said, adding that he was expelled on Thursday.

It said teaching material and a "sizeable amount of proselytisation brochures" were seized from the man. A security source told AFP the missionary was American. "The group of Moroccans accompanying him were freed," the source added.

Last March, four Spaniards and a German woman were similarly expelled after they held a missionary meeting with Moroccan nationals, according to a statement from the ministry of the interior. - (Sapa-AFP)