RABAT, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's Minister of Culture and Communication Mohamed Laaraj will not take part in the meeting of communication ministers on Yemen crisis in Saudi Arabia, local media reported on Friday.
The news site Le360.ma said that the ministry's decision is due to "busy agenda," citing an official statement.
The Moroccan decision to skip the meeting, which scheduled on June 23 in the Saudi city of Jeddah, came only two days after the North African kingdom lost its bid to host the 2026 World Cup to the joint bid of the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Saudi Arabia, along with UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, voted for the North American bid, stirring outrage and condemnation among Moroccans.
The Moroccan Youth and Sports Minister Rachid Talbi Alami deemed in press statement on Thursday the move by the concerned Arab countries as a "treason."
Morocco is part of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and it sent troops to contribute to the Saudi-led operations that fight Houthi rebels and aim at "restoring the legitimate government in Yemen."
