Two suspected militants have been killed in a security operation in the Moroccan port city of Casablanca, the authorities have said.
A police raid on suspected militants in the Moroccan city of Casablanca has set off gunfights and suicide bombings that have left at least five men dead.
Security forces killed one suspect while another blew himself up during the dawn raid in the el Fida district.
One of the men was shot dead by police in a raid on an alleged militant hideout in a poor area of the city.
Last month, police arrested 18 people after a suicide bomb attack at an internet cafe in the city.
Another three suspected militants blew themselves up during the police manhunt. A police officer also died in one of the blasts.
In May 2003, some 45 people, including 12 bombers, were killed in a series of co-ordinated suicide bombings.
Suicide bombers killed more than 40 people in Casablanca in 2003.
"One of the two was hit by bullets and died from his injuries while the other blew himself up just as police officers were in the process of arresting him," a police statement said of Tuesday's operation.
They targeted the city's ancient Jewish centre, tourist spots and a diplomatic complex.
Police were reportedly searching for a third suspect.
When they were about to hit him, he blew himself up in front of our eyes. Everything went red Moroccan witness
The statement said police had been looking for the men as part of an investigation into the attack on the internet cafe on 11 March.
Moroccan police said the man they shot dead on Tuesday, named as Mohamed Mentala, was wanted in connection with the 2003 attacks.
The bomber was killed in that attack, in which four people were injured, including a suspected accomplice.
The other three men were believed to be linked to a suicide bomber who blew himself up in a Casablanca internet cafe last month, as police tried to arrest him.
The authorities do not believe he was acting alone and 18 people are being questioned concerning the incident.
According to Richard Hamilton, the BBC's correspondent in Rabat, the police will be pleased that the bombers this time were intercepted before they could reach more crowded targets.
Fifty people are also currently on trial in the city of Sale near the capital, Rabat, accused of planning terrorist attacks on government targets and tourist resorts last year.
Moroccan officials say they recently foiled a militant plot to bomb foreign and security targets in the country.
The BBC's Richard Hamilton in Rabat says police are hoping they can foil any repeat of the suicide bombings of May 2003.
Bombings
Tuesday's violence began at dawn, when police raided a suspected militant hide-out in Casablanca's Fida district.
One man blew himself up after a brief rooftop confrontation with police.
Security forces believe the militants were planning large attacks
According to interior ministry officials quoted by the Associated Press news agency, another man shot dead in the raid was found to have explosives on his body.
As police combed the area later that afternoon, a third man blew himself up after reportedly jumping from a balcony.
The blast also killed a policeman and left another hurt.
A fourth suspected militant blew himself up later after approaching a police cordon.
A woman who witnessed the police raid said she saw a suspect "on the ground, dead, with his backpack on".
Another witness, a man, said he saw a suspect cornered on a rooftop.
"Two police inspectors turned up. They were below him, below a wall. When they were about to hit him, he blew himself up in front of our eyes. Everything went red."
The situation is calm in the city, events occurred in the outskirts of Casablanca 15km from downtown.Ali Amar, Casablanca, Morocco
This, yet again, just proves how effective both Moroccan intelligence services and the police are - let alone the general public. I feel safer here than anywhere in Europe. James Cutting, Marrakech, Morocco
Oh my god, I am so scared and shocked by these terrible actions. Hopefully this will be the last bomb I see in my life because seriously I cannot stand this anymore. Please help us find a solution to end this problem.larbi, Casablanca
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