France Telecom's Moroccan affiliate boosts profit

RABAT, April 1 (Reuters) - France Telecom's (FTE.PA) Moroccan affiliate Medi Telecom (Meditel) posted a 126 percent rise in its net profit last year after adding more clients, the official MAP news agency said on Friday.

Meditel made a net profit of 623 million dirhams ($78 million) in 2010 on turnover up 7.1 percent at 5.7 billion dirhams, MAP said. France Telecom holds a 40 percent stake in the cellphone operator.

The number of Meditel's clients rose 14 percent to 10.8 million by the end of 2010, it added.

Meditel competes with Vivendi's (VIV.PA) affiliate Maroc Telecom (IAM.CS) and private operator Wana, in which Kuwait's Zain (ZAIN.KW) is a key shareholder. ($1=7.996 Moroccan dirhams) (Reporting by Souhail Karam; Editing by Greg Mahlich)