A volcanic ash cloud from Iceland forced the shutdown yesterday of airports for the first time in North Africa and the Canaries and southern Spain, as it drifted as far as Turkish airspace.

While most European air travel was "close to normal" on Tuesday, the continent's air traffic agency Eurocontrol said, restrictions and airport closures caused flight cancellations as winds pushed volcanic ash in the atmosphere into new territory.

Around 250 flights to and from Moroccan airports were cancelled or rerouted, national airport authorities said.

Eight airports on Morocco's north and west coasts, including Rabat and Casablanca, were shut down, the first time the cloud of ash that has caused air traffic chaos in Europe over the past month has affected North Africa's airspace.

Casablanca - Royal Air Maroc's hub - ceased operations until 1800 GMT, together with the smaller airport in the capital Rabat, the transportation ministry said in a statement.

Flights to and from Tangiers, Tetouan, Essaouira, Agadir, Tan-Tan and Guelmin were also halted until 1800 GMT, the ministry said.

By midday in Spain, air traffic control agency Aena had given the all-clear to reopen four airports that were shut down earlier in the day on the Canary islands of Tenerife and La Gomera and at Badajoz in southwest Spain.

But Malaga and Grenada-Jaen were closed late yesterday afternoon and the airports on the Canary Island of La Palma, and at Seville and Jerez in southern Spain remained closed.