July 26, 1999
Web posted at: 12:50 a.m. EDT (0450 GMT)

RABAT, Morocco (CNN) -- President Clinton caused the Secret Service some anxious moments in Morocco Sunday, when he became caught up in the moment at the funeral of King Hassan II, and decided to continue walking with the funeral procession, as crowds pressed around him.

The Moroccans had asked Clinton if he would walk at the front of the procession. The plan had been for him to only go a small distance.

"This was obviously not an ideal situation from a security standpoint, as you can imagine. I think the president really felt very strongly that he just wanted to do this," said National Security Adviser Samuel Berger.

"Balancing the security aspects, on the one hand, and the statement that it would make to the Moroccan people to make this walk in honor of King Hassan, I think he felt the latter was overriding," Berger told reporters.

Clinton praised Hassan, telling the Moroccan people that he promoted peace in the Middle East, and "showed it is possible... to reach out to Israel."

White House officials said President Clinton met with 30-40 other world leaders during his day in Rabat. Many of the meetings were informal.

Discussions centered mainly on the Middle East peace process.

The President briefed Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat on Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's trip to Washington. Barak, Clinton and Arafat also met together.

In addition, Clinton met with the president of Algeria and the prime minister of Morocco.

CNN Producer Kevin Bohn contributed to this report.

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