Askari Kanzu
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- Jan 7, 2011
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Protesters demand limit on royal powers
The protest was initiated by a group calling itself the February 20 Movement for Change (File)
Sunday, 20 February 2011
At least 2,000 protesters gathered in a square in Morocco's capital on Sunday to demand that King Mohammed give up some of his powers and clamp down on government corruption.
Some people in the crowd were waving Tunisian and Egyptian flags, a recognition of the popular uprisings there.
Uniformed police kept their distance from the protest, in Rabat's Bab El Ahad area, though there were plain-clothes officers mingling in the crowd with notebooks.
Analysts say Morocco, with a reformist monarch who is widely respected, and a growing economy, is one of the Arab countries least likely to succumb to the wave of protests sweeping the region.
Slogans chanted at the protest included: "The people reject a constitution made for slaves!" and "The people want the autocracy down!"
"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, which helpedorganize the protest.
The protest was initiated by a group calling itself the February 20 Movement for Change, which has attracted 19,000 followers on the social networking website Facebook.
On the eve of the protest, a Moroccan youth movement said it was pulling out because of disagreements with Islamists and leftists.
Demonstrations were also planned for Morocco's other main cities, including Marrakesh, the top tourist destination.
Source:
The protest was initiated by a group calling itself the February 20 Movement for Change (File)
Sunday, 20 February 2011
At least 2,000 protesters gathered in a square in Morocco's capital on Sunday to demand that King Mohammed give up some of his powers and clamp down on government corruption.
Some people in the crowd were waving Tunisian and Egyptian flags, a recognition of the popular uprisings there.
Uniformed police kept their distance from the protest, in Rabat's Bab El Ahad area, though there were plain-clothes officers mingling in the crowd with notebooks.
Analysts say Morocco, with a reformist monarch who is widely respected, and a growing economy, is one of the Arab countries least likely to succumb to the wave of protests sweeping the region.
Slogans chanted at the protest included: "The people reject a constitution made for slaves!" and "The people want the autocracy down!"
"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, which helpedorganize the protest.
The protest was initiated by a group calling itself the February 20 Movement for Change, which has attracted 19,000 followers on the social networking website Facebook.
On the eve of the protest, a Moroccan youth movement said it was pulling out because of disagreements with Islamists and leftists.
Demonstrations were also planned for Morocco's other main cities, including Marrakesh, the top tourist destination.
Source:
