A few thousand people turned out Sunday to protest in Morocco, saying King Mohammed VI's proposed constitutional reforms don't go far enough. Though many expressed support for their king to stay in power, demonstrators argued that a network of privilege and patronage surrounding him must end, and that he must part with more power than he has proposed.
Roots of unrest
Protesters are seeking, among other things, political reforms to curb the power of the centuries-old monarchy. Like other nations in the region, Morocco is grappling with economic woes, including high unemployment.
King Mohammed VI announced reforms that will boost the power of the prime minister and take away some of his own but some protesters said Saturday that changes are not enough. They have called for a peaceful demonstration Sunday to push for more changes. In a televised address Friday, the king said Morocco's revamped draft constitution will make officials more accountable, the parliament in Rabat more dynamic and will give the government greater powers.
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