Rabat: A blind Moroccan man fell to his death while taking part in a protest to demand jobs on the roof of a ministry in the capital Rabat, authorities said on Monday.

The man was among dozens of visually impaired jobless Moroccans who were taking part since late September in the sit-in on the roof of the family affairs ministry to demand work in the public sector.

“Immediately after his fall (he) was taken to an ambulance that had been deployed to the ministry throughout this sit-in but he died on the way to the hospital,” the ministry said in a statement.

“An investigation has been opened by the relevant authorities,” it added, expressing sadness and regret over the “tragic incident”.

Since late September, members of the National Coordination of Visually Impaired Graduates have threatened to throw themselves off the ministry’s roof if their demands are not met.