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Morocco next to be hit by protests

Monday, 21 February 20113 min read

Protests are taking place in cities across Morocco, including the tourist hotspot of Marrakesh.

Thousands of Moroccans have taken to the streets to demand that the country’s ruler, King Mohammed VI, give up some of his powers.

Peaceful marches took place on Sunday in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, and in the country’s biggest city, Casablanca.

According to some reports, there was scattered violence on Sunday evening in Marrakesh when protesters, some of them throwing stones, clashed with police and attacked a McDonald’s.

The latest report from the BBC said five burned bodies have been found in a bank, set on fire in the northern town of Al Hoceima.

Morocco is the latest nation to stage protests after Tunisia and Egypt managed to force out their leaders.

Many had predicted that Morocco’s reformist monarchy would not be the subject of the uprisings that are sweeping the region.

Political and economic analysts believe there is less likely to be a major uprising in Morocco because of its successful economy and elected government.

In an interview with the BBC, political analyst Abdelhay Moudden said: “Most of what these people and organisations are calling for has been on the political scene for quite some time – political change, freedom, reform, change in the constitution.”

Meanwhile, British travellers have been warned against all but essential travel to Libya after 200 people were reported to have been killed in a crackdown on demonstrations in the country’s second city Benghazi.

 

By Bev Fearis

 

 

By Bev Fearis