Morocco protesters demand political change

BBC News, 20 February 2011

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Thousands of Moroccans have rallied in the capital, Rabat, to demand that King Mohammed give up some of his powers.

Protesters marched through Rabat in heavy rain

Reports from Rabat said the protesters were heading towards parliament and that police had not tried to halt them.

A separate protest was under way in Casablanca and one was planned for Marrakesh.

Protests have spread across the region since popular movements in Tunisia and Egypt forced out leaders.

In Rabat, the protesters have been chanting: "The people want the regime to fall," and "the people reject a constitution made for slaves."

The rally was organised by groups including one calling itself the February 20 Movement for Change. At least 22,000 people have expressed their backing for its Facebook site.

Led by King Mohammed, seen as a reformist while

retaining sweeping powers

Population 32.3 million, land area 710,850 sq km,
including Western Sahara

Median age 26.5, literacy rate 56%

Gross National Income per head: $2,770 (World Bank)

Country profile: Morocco

"This is a peaceful protest to push for constitutional reform, restore dignity and end graft and the plundering of public funds," said Mustapha Muchtati of the Baraka (Enough) group, another of the organisers behind the protest.

Moroccan Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar said people should not join the march, warning that any "slip may, in the space of few weeks, cost us what we have achieved over the last 10 years".

Analysts say Morocco has a successful economy, an elected parliament and a reformist monarchy, making it less likely than other states to be the subject of a major public uprising.

Other countries involved in the protests have high unemployment and less political freedom.

King Mohammed is a member of the Alaouite dynasty that has been ruling Morocco for some 350 years, claiming a direct line of descent from the Prophet Muhammad.