(Repeats to fix spelling of "scared" in paragraphs 6 and 9)

By Lamine Ghanmi

RABAT, April 15 (Reuters) - Moroccans fear a series of suicide bombings in the commercial hub Casablanca may wreck the very economic growth needed to reduce the poverty seen as a breeding ground for jihadist foot soldiers.

Two suicide bombers, Mohamed Baha and his brother Omar, blew themselves up outside U.S. diplomatic offices in a Casablanca on Saturday in the first such targeted attacks in four years.

Only the two were killed in the blasts, no one was wounded.

Coming days after a police raid in which three bombers blew themselves up and a fourth was shot, the prospect that more suicide bombers may be at large has raised concerns the menace could hurt foreign investment and tourism at a time when the government is striving to lure both to spur growth.

"Bombers are making the life of the poor worse because there will be less jobs," said Achour Daoudi, a 17-year-old student. "It is better for them to look for ways to improve the situation."

Ahmed Soltani, 57, a Casablanca port worker said: "I'm scared for our safety and about my children who would face a hard time finding jobs in tourism if investors are frightened."

Tourism officials said bookings have not been cancelled or stays cut short as a result of the bombings. Experts say, however, it is difficult to gauge the impact at this stage, four months before the peak summer tourism season.

"Tourism operators in the world changed their views of the impact of terrorist attacks because attacks are becoming common," Ali Ghannem, head of the Hoteliers National Federation, was quoted by Al Ahdath daily as saying.

But Salima Mossadek, 22, sales executive at a chic clothing store in Casablanca, said: "I feel insecure when I walk on the street and I'm scared even inside the car when I drive."

RECRUITING GROUND

Saturday's targeted suicide bombings in Casablanca were the first in Morocco since May 2003, when attackers set off at least five explosions in Casablanca, killing 45 people, including 13 bombers who lived in the some of the poorest slums.

Analysts see the most recent blasts in Morocco, and twin explosions that killed 33 people in neighbouring Algeria, as the latest signs of a growing threat from radical Islamists in North Africa who have an easy task recruiting among the region's poor.

More than 35 percent of Morocco's 30 million people are poor and more than 40 percent are illiterate. Economists say the wealth gap makes the social picture grim as 10 percent of the rich own 85 percent of the wealth.

Morocco must create 400,000 jobs per year in the next 15 years, compared with an average of 120,000 jobs in the past decade, to prevent mass unemployment from derailing stability, analysts have said.

The government says it has a plan to expand growth and create more than 2.5 million jobs, including 600,000 positions in tourism by 2010.

It says it has been making progress in trimming poverty and improving living conditions in shantytowns.But critics say its efforts have not gone far enough.

"The government has almost done nothing since May 16, 2003, to begin in earnest eradicating the breeding ground of this menace in the outskirts of Casablanca," said Ali Amar, editor of the main independent weekly Le Journal, referring to city slums.

SEARCH FOR BOMBERS

Witnesses said the first blast on Saturday took place six metres (yards) from the U.S. cultural centre and the second went off about 20 seconds later 60 metres away from the consulate.

On Tuesday, three suspected would-be bombers killed themselves in a poor neighbourhood of Casablanca after police raided a safe house and shot dead a fourth suspect, setting off their explosives to prevent police arresting them alive.

Police have said they arrested the two leaders of the armed group to which the two suicide bombers and those responsible for Tuesday's blasts belonged.

Leading expert on radical Islam in Morocco Mohamed Dharif said he believed there could be more than 15 suicide bombers still on the run.

Police do not want to comment amid an intense search for potential bombers.

"We are a moderate people with a moderate religion. Suicide bombings do not belong in our land and our culture," said shop owner Slim Chraibi.

"These bombers and their stupid acts are dangerous for Morocco's economy and security of the people," Chraibi added.

AlertNet news is provided by