Probe blast Moroccan Marrakech

Forensic teams were scouring the scene for attack indices Morocco has launched an investigation into a bomb on a cafe in Marrakech that left 14 people dead including 11 foreigners.

More than 20 others were injured, some seriously, when the explosion wracked coffee from Agana to Djemaa el - Fna square, a popular tourist spot.

Nationalities of the foreign victims have not been confirmed, but medical sources said at least six are French.

An official of Marrakesh said that a suicide bomber could have caused the explosion.

So far, no group said it carried out the attack.

The UK Foreign Office is investigating reports one of the victims was British.

Some earlier reports had put the number of dead at 15.

The last serious attack in the Morocco is in Casablanca in 2003, where 45 persons, including suicide bombers - were killed.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy "heinous, cruel and cowardly" attack of the mark, its sad Office.

Mr Sarkozy spoke by telephone to King Mohammed IV, who ordered a "rapid and transparent investigation" when he presided over a Council of Ministers at the royal palace in Fez.

Taib Cherkaoui Moroccan Interior Minister would not confirm reports of a suicide attack, but added: "I can assure you that we continue to fight terrorism with all legal means." The criminals involved in this Act will be brought to justice. ?

Minister of Moroccan Communications Khalid Naciri told the AFP news agency "it was an act of terrorism" and that the country would react "with care".

He said "Morocco is confronted by threats of same as in May 2003,".

Said police checkpoints had been set up at the entrance of the main cities of the Morocco. French intelligence and the fight against terrorism experts are to travel to the former French colony Friday, said the officials in Paris.

Witnesses described hearing a huge explosion just before noon Thursday that sent debris flying in the square.

"A woman was blown in the air, and I saw a completely disfigured man," a student told the French AFP news agency.

"Then I saw a girl of 14 or 15 years, she was also disfigured. "The three were foreign," he said.

Promised reforms.

A large part of the facade of the two-storey cafe was stunned and passers-by organs of rubble and has tried to extinguish the flames with fire extinguishers, witnesses said.

Morocco has remained relatively calm in the middle of recent disturbances in North Africa and of the Arab world, but the King has promised constitutional reforms following several peaceful demonstrations in large part in the two months.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said personal UK consular had been sent to provide assistance to British nationals.

He said it was aware of reports in the French newspaper Le Figaro that one of the dead was British, but could not verify the information.

Djemaa el - Fna square is a site of Unesco's world heritage popular with foreign tourists, particularly Europeans.