Press freedom under fire in Morocco as journalists go on trial over "royal" cartoons...

The editor of a Moroccan daily newspaper and its caricaturist went on trial on Monday in what journalists say is part of an unprecedented government crackdown against the press.

The court case, in the city of Ain Sebaa, near Casablanca, is the third trial of reporters in less than 15 days.

"We are here as part of the ongoing massacre of press freedom," said Taoufik Bouachrine, editor of Akhbar al Youm, Morocco's second largest Arabic language daily, shortly before he and caricaturist Khalid Gueddar appeared in court.

Last month the paper printed a front page cartoon of King Mohammed's cousin Prince Moulay Ismail celebrating his wedding to a German woman. More...

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