Morocco considers ending death penalty

RABAT, Morocco, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Morocco's justice minister says his country is on the verge of abolishing capital punishment.

Abdelwahed Radi says ending the death penalty could be accomplished as part of a revision of Morocco's penal code, Med Basin Newsline reported Monday.

The country has 11 crimes that carry the death penalty.

Since 1973, only two of 133 people sentenced to death have been executed, the last in 1993.

Abolition of capital punishment would help Morocco acquire advanced status with the European community, Moroccan officials have said.