Morning Briefing

Agence France-Presse examines the abortion debate in Morocco, where "voices calling for a repeal of the [country's] ban on abortion are growing louder," according to the news service. "The debate over abortion is just the latest front of an ongoing conflict between conservative supporters of traditional values and more liberal, reform-minded campaigners," the news service writes. "'We are going in all directions. It is difficult to move forward with a conservative government,' [Fauzia Assouli, president of the Federation of the Democratic League of Women's Rights] told AFP," the news service notes. "But at the same time, she said, there was a growing sense of awareness, a sense of momentum among activists," AFP writes. The news service adds, "A national congress will be held on June 12 in Rabat, under the auspices of the Moroccan Association for the Fight against Clandestine Abortion, headed by Professor Chafik Chraibi," a renowned gynecologist in the country (Mamarbachi, 6/4).