InfoAnda - Morocco King to lose some powers, remain key figure |

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Google apologises to Chinese writers over book flap | 10 January 2010
Snooki gets in your face in new Jersey Shore games | | 26 July 2010
Syrian forces shoot dead six in Hama: activists | | 5 July 2011

New York manufacturing survey rebounds | 18 August 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Morocco King to lose some powers, remain key figure |

Edition: U.S. Article Comments (0) Full Focus Photos of the week Our top photos from the past week. Full Article Follow Reuters Facebook Twitter RSS YouTube Read IMF cuts U.S. growth forecast, warns of crisis | 17 Jun 2011 ".brands" approach with Internet name shake-up 17 Jun 2011 Oracle seeks up to $6.1 billion in Google lawsuit 17 Jun 2011 Black hole shreds star, sparking gamma ray flash 16 Jun 2011 Syria forces kill 19 in biggest protests: activists | 17 Jun 2011 Discussed 114 Obama weighs new steps to boost jobs 72 Republicans to debate, with Romney the frontrunner 47 Weiner tells friends he will resign: NY Times Watched Airbus' view of flying in the future Mon, Jun 13 2011 Hefner, fiancee split; Schwarzenegger mistress talks Wed, Jun 15 2011 Rep. Weiner resigns over online scandal Thu, Jun 16 2011 Morocco King to lose some powers, remain key figure Tweet Share this Email Print Related News Timeline: Morocco's king announces new reforms Fri, Jun 17 2011 Analysis & Opinion Losers all around in French Muslim council election Syrian dissidents unite to oust Assad Related Topics World » By Souhail Karam RABAT | Fri Jun 17, 2011 6:17pm EDT RABAT (Reuters) - Morocco's King Mohammed promised a new democratic constitution on Friday that would devolve some of his powers to parliament and the government, adding Moroccans would be able to vote for the changes in a July 1 referendum. The reformed constitution will shift some powers to government and hold officials more accountable, but the king will retain his grip on security, the army and religion, according to a draft seen by Reuters earlier in the day. Addressing the nation in a TV address, Mohammed said he would vote for the new charter and urged Moroccans to do likewise. "We have managed ... to develop a new democratic constitutional charter," he said. "I am addressing you today to renew our joint commitment to achieving a significant transition in completing the construction of a state based on the rule of law and on democratic institutions, and ... good governance" After facing the biggest anti-establishment protests in decades, King Mohammed in March ordered a hand-picked committee to discuss constitutional reform with political parties, trade unions and NGOs. The brief was to trim the 47-year-old monarch's clout and make the judiciary independent. The moves by King Mohammed, who heads the Arab world's longest-serving dynasty, are being closely monitored by Gulf Arab monarchies which have so far dodged calls at home for reforms and are concerned the Moroccan model may raise expectations in their countries. The final draft of the reformed constitution explicitly grants the government executive powers, although the king would keep exclusive control over military and religious fields and pick a prime minister from the party that wins the polls. Ministers, ambassadors and provincial governors, who are interior ministry representatives, would be proposed by the prime minister although the king has to approve the choices. "The constitution gives the head of government (prime minister) the power to propose and dismiss cabinet members, to steer and coordinate government action, and to supervise public service," Mohammed said in his speech, but he added that he was "the trustworthy guide and supreme arbiter." "Appointments in the military remain an exclusive, sovereign prerogative of the King, Supreme Commander and Chief of Staff of the Royal Armed Forces," he said. Further, the prime minister would be able to dissolve the lower house of parliament after consulting the king, house speaker and head of the constitutional court. The new constitution would "enshrine citizenship-based monarchy and the citizen king," Mohammed said. Najib Chawki, an activist from the February 20 Movement, said the constitutional reform draft "does not respond to the essence of our demands which is establishing a parliamentary monarchy. We are basically moving from a de facto absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy." The movement has called for the creation in Morocco of a parliamentary monarchy, an end to the influence of the king's inner circle, the dismissal of the government, and for officials and businessmen it accuses of corruption to be put on trial. SECURITY ROLE Driss Lachgar, Minister in charge of relations with parliament, called the draft "a real revolution and laid the foundations for a parliamentary monarchy." Protesters have also demanded that the king fight corruption and limit the influence of the secretive palace elite. But they have not gone as far as demanding an end to the Arab world's longest-serving dynasty and have failed to win the sort of mass popular support that toppled the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt, uprisings which inspired the February 20 Movement. They have, however, attracted activists of various ideological backgrounds from extreme-left to Islamists and from wealthy businessmen to indigenous Amazigh activists. The reformed constitution allows the king to delegate the task of chairing ministerial council meetings to the prime minister, which can appoint provincial governors and ambassadors -- prerogatives currently exclusive to the king. The February 20 Movement plans to push ahead with protests planned for Sunday. "We will continue to mobilize Moroccans for a democratic constitution that widens the scope of public freedoms," said Chawki. Under the proposed reforms, the king would still be able to dissolve parliament but only after consulting the chairman of a newly introduced Constitutional Court, of which half the members will be appointed by the king. The reform will introduce a Supreme Security Council which will be chaired by the king as a platform for consultations on domestic and foreign security issues. It will include among its members the prime minister, speakers of the bi-cameral parliament and senior army officers. The reformed constitution also recognizes Tamazight as an official language alongside Arabic, a move which looks set to appease Amazigh activists within February 20 Movement. Amazigh are North Africa's original inhabitants before Arabs conquered it in the seventh century to spread Islam. (Editing by John Irish; Editing by Jon Boyle) World Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/ Comments (0) Be the first to comment on reuters.com. Add yours using the box above. Social Stream (What's this?) © Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters Editorial Editions: Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom United States Reuters Contact Us Advertise With Us Help Journalism Handbook Archive Site Index Video Index Reader Feedback Mobile Newsletters RSS Podcasts Widgets Your View Analyst Research Thomson Reuters Copyright Disclaimer Privacy Professional Products Professional Products Support Financial Products About Thomson Reuters Careers Online Products Acquisitions Monthly Buyouts Venture Capital Journal International Financing Review Project Finance International PEhub.com PE Week FindLaw Super Lawyers Attorney Rating Service Reuters on Facebook Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Other News on Saturday, 18 June 2011
Pakistan concerned by NATO incursion near border |
U.N. sees unique opportunity for global atom safety |
Mexican teenage girls train as drug cartel killers |
U.N. council recommends 2nd term for Ban Ki-moon |
U.N. rights forum proclaims equal gay rights |
IPO View: Profitless Pandora pricks the tech bubble |
.brands approach with Internet name shake-up |
Amazon, EBay gain on ecommerce data |
Russell Brand, Beyonce invited to be Oscar voters |
Debbie Reynolds selling historic movie costumes |
Syria forces kill 19 in biggest protests: activists |
Fighting as Libyan rebels try to close on Gaddafi |
South Korean troops shoot at civilian airliner by mistake |
Philippines rules out hero's burial for dictator Marcos |
Former Zambian President Frederick Chiluba dies: report |
Ohio State loses top prep linebacker recruit to scandal
Will Power fastest in IndyCar practice
Reyes keeps up winning ways as Blue Jays edge Reds
Morocco King to lose some powers, remain key figure |
McCourt's court battle continues: one-day trial could decide Dodgers' future
Ty Dillon pulls off another ARCA win
Marathon men John Isner-Nicolas Mahut gear up for part two at Wimbledon
College bowl schedule opens Dec. 17 in New Orleans, two other sites
Some NFL owners unhappy with labor deal
Westwood only player of big three with sub-70 round at U.S. Open
Rain derails Eastbourne play; Baghdatis upset, Vinci reaches final vs. Dokic in Holland
Oracle seeks up to $6.1 billion in Google lawsuit |
Microsoft gets antitrust approval to buy Skype |
Apple and Samsung executives in talks on patent lawsuits |
Analysis: Banks seek cybershelter with ethical hackers |
Somali-owned shops looted, torched in South Africa
Toll from Kabul attack rises to nine: ministry |
Health Law Expands Medicare To Montana Asbestos Patients
Bill signed boosting bear hunter’s rights in Wisconsin
Lebanon sends troops after residents clash on Syria |
Manufacturer for Publix Brand Caesar Salad Dressing Issues an Allergen Alert for Undeclared Fish, Soy and Gluten
Ireland will not field entry for Ocean Race but will team up with China
ANALYSIS: Yemen crisis puts Saudis in powerbroker's bind |
Post workout, Ochocinco likes ex-Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor
Iran defense chief in Kabul as Afghans eye security |
Josh Willingham doubles, roars home on error; 'small ball' A's top Giants
Pitcher Josh Tomlin sharp as Indians topple Pirates
Bahrain to lift ban on opposition party |
Seimone Augustus scores 25 points, Lynx top Dream for 4-1 start
Child’s entrapment, death prompts Big Lots recall of metal futon bunk beds
Mubarak aide Salem hospitalized after Spain arrest |
Hackers might face stiffer sentences in U.S. |
Russian online companies the new investor darlings |
Vatican turns to Internet to stem sexual abuse |
Folk opera based on Bill Clinton to open in New York |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01