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| Demonstrators say the government is failing to deliver promised social reforms |
Tens of
thousands of anti-government protesters took to the streets in Morocco's
largest city, Casablanca.
The rally,
organised by trade unions, was believed to be the biggest since a new
government took office in January.
Those
taking part accused Prime Minister Benkirane of failing to deliver promised
reforms.
Morocco's
King Mohammed VI managed to hold off Arab Spring protests last year by curbing
his powers and pledging a raft of reforms.
In
November, polls brought to power a coalition government led by the Justice and
Development Party, a moderate Islamist party, but many are frustrated over the
pace of change in a country plagued by high unemployment and illiteracy rates.
'United
message'
"There
are more than 50,000 people who are demonstrating to call on the government to
start a genuine dialogue addressing our country's social ills," opposition
Socialist MP Hassan Tariq said on Sunday.
"The
trade unions are united and the message to the Benkirane government is clear:
he needs to change his strategy," he told AFP news agency.
An official
put the number of demonstrators at between 15,000 and 20,000, according to AFP
news agency.
Trade
unions have been calling for an improvement in salaries and social conditions
in Morocco, where almost half of those aged between 15 and 29 are unemployed.
Last year,
after the country found itself caught up in the protest movement that swept
through the region, the king unveiled a new constitution and promised to
transfer powers to an elected government.
Morocco's
talk of a democratic agenda went down well internationally, but critics say the
changes were largely cosmetic.
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