Moroccans renew call for social justice

Mon Sep 19, 2011

Moroccans have once again taken to the streets in several cities to protest corruption in the monarchy and demand better living conditions and social justice.

Thousands of people held rallies in Casablanca, Morocco's largest city, as well as the port city of Tangiers, on Sunday, The Associated Press reported.

Protesters chanted slogans against government corruption and even called for the downfall of the US-backed authoritarian regime.

The demonstrations were organized by the February 20 movement, named after the date that Moroccans, inspired by revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, began their anti-government protests.

Demonstrators also chanted slogans against approved constitutional reforms that critics have described as window-dressing, urging the country's ruler King Mohammed VI to curb more of his powers.

"Head of the army, it's too much, head of the religion, it's too much," chanted the crowd.

The reforms included the election, by a popular vote, of the prime minister, who was formerly appointed by the king himself. They would also transfer some of the monarch's powers to the parliament.

However, the king will remain the head of state and the military as well as the highest religious authority in the country.

The Moroccan government has announced that the country's parliamentary elections will be held in November.

A member of the largest party elected to the parliament is to be picked as the prime minister.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.com/detail/199922.html.