Islamists Suffer Crushing Defeat By Moderate Parties In Morocco Vote

 

Arab News/AFP: Islamists suffer crushing defeat by liberal parties in Morocco vote 

* The Justice and Development Party saw its support collapse from 125 seats in the outgoing assembly to just 12 

* The Istiqlal (Independence) party, the oldest in Morocco, made a remarkable comeback, adding 32 seats 

RABAT: Morocco’s long-ruling Islamists have suffered a crushing defeat in parliamentary elections to liberal parties seen as close to the palace, according to provisional results announced on Thursday. 

The Justice and Development Party (PJD), which headed the governing coalition for a decade, saw its support collapse from 125 seats in the outgoing assembly to just 12, Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit said during a press briefing following Wednesday’s polls. 

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More News On Islamist Parties Routed In Morocco Elections  

Morocco’s ruling party suffers crushing defeat to liberal rivals -- Al Jazeera 

Liberals win most seats in Morocco's parliamentary election, routing Islamists -- Reuters  

Moroccan voters hand stinging defeat to governing Islamists -- Canadian Press  

Morocco: Moderate parties rout ruling Islamists in elections -- DW

Western Sahara’s Polisario Front Group Accuses Morocco Of Breaking The Ceasefire And ' Ignit A War'

Reuters: Fears grow of new Western Sahara war between Morocco and Polisario Front 

RABAT/ALGIERS (Reuters) - The Western Sahara’s Polisario Front group said on Friday that Morocco had broken their ceasefire and “ignited war”, but Rabat denied there had been any armed clashes between the sides and said the three-decade truce remained in place. 

The Polisario representative in Europe, Oubi Bechraya, told Reuters there had been military confrontations with the exchange of fire on Friday, adding “we have declared a return to the armed struggle”. 

However, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bouriti denied there were clashes, saying the army had only fired warning shots. “Morocco is committed to the ceasefire,” he told Reuters.  

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More News On The Growing Tensions In Western Sahara 

Polisario Front threatens to end Morocco ceasefire -- Middle East Monitor  

Morocco sends troops to Western Sahara border to end Polisario 'provocations' -- France 24  

Ceasefire declared over as Morocco launches Western Sahara military operation -- Middle East Eye 

Western Sahara: Polisario threatens to end ceasefire after Morocco 'provocation' -- Africa News  

Morocco troops launch operation in Western Sahara border zone -- Al Jazeera

Moroccan F-16 Fighter Jet Reported Missing Over Yemen

The Moroccan F-16 was reportedly hit by ground fire while conducting a mission over Yemen [YouTube]

Reuters: Moroccan F-16 jet from Saudi-led coalition in Yemen goes missing

A Moroccan F-16 warplane taking part in the Saudi Arabian-led coalition fighting in Yemen went missing on Sunday, the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces said in a statement.

Backed by the United States, a Saudi-led coalition has been conducting air strikes against the Houthis and army units loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh since March 26 with the aim of restoring the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Morocco announced its backing of Saudi Arabia since the beginning of the action and has had F-16 warplanes stationed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

More News On A Moroccan F-16 Fighter Jet Being Reported Missing Over Yemen

Moroccan F-16 goes missing in Yemen -- Al Jazeera
Moroccan Fighter Jet Goes Missing in Yemen -- AP
Moroccan fighter jet goes missing over Yemen -- Times of Israel/AP/AFP
Moroccan F-16 Warplane Goes Missing in Yemen -- Morocco World News

Islamist Parties Win In Morocco's Elections

Islamists Win Morocco's Arab Spring Election -- Time/AP

(RABAT, Morocco) — The victory of an Islamist Party in Morocco's parliamentary elections appears to be one more sign that religious-based parties are benefiting the most from the new freedoms brought by the Arab Spring.

Across the Middle East, parties referencing Islam have made great strides, offering an alternative to corrupt, long serving dictators, who have often ruled with close Western support.

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More News On The Islamists Winning The Election In Morocco

Morocco's Arab Spring election won by Islamists -- AP
Morocco's Arab Spring election won by Islamists -- AFP
Moderate Islamist Party to Lead Coalition Government in Morocco -- New York Times
Morocco Islamists poised to win parliamentary vote -- Reuters
Islamist Party Poised to Take Power in Morocco -- Wall Street Journal
Islamists claim election advantage in Morocco -- CNN
Islamist party wins power for first time in Morocco -- The Telegraph

Morocco's King Tries To Calm Political Calls For Reform

Protesters Take To Morocco Streets -- Financial Times

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Morocco on Sunday, protesting that the steps to give more power to elected politicians do not go far enough.

The youth-led February 20 movement, which was inspired by pro-democracy movements in Tunisia and Egypt, claims the draft constitution announced by King Mohammed on Friday does not significantly shift the balance of power away from the monarchy.

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More News On the Unrest In Morocco

Morocco's king proposes constitutional reforms -- L.A. Times
Morocco King to lose some powers, remain key figure -- Reuters
Morocco King Proposes Limited Steps to Democracy -- New York Times
Morocco's King Mohammed unveils constitutional reforms -- BBC
Thousands protest in Morocco, but support king -- CNN
Morocco's king bows to pressure and allows reform -- The Guardian
Morocco's king unveils reforms, curbs to own power -- AFP
Morocco: Protesters say king's reforms 'not enough' -- BBC
Timeline: Morocco's king announces new reforms -- Reuters

Arab Unrest Spreading To Morocco

People chanted during a protest march in Rabat, Morocco’s capital, on Sunday. Between 3,000 and 5,000 people demonstrated. Youssef Boudlal/Reuters

Morocco Riots Leave Five Dead -- The Guardian

Initial protests pass off peacefully but bank blaze kills five with scores injured and detained as trouble flares in deprived suburbs

Sporadic outbursts of violence have continued in Morocco after Sunday's peaceful pro-democracy protests gave way to rioting, with five people killed in a fire at a bank in the northern port of Al Hoceima.

Interior ministry figures showed that the protests were far more extensive than first thought, with nearly 40,000 people turning out in 57 towns and cities.

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More News On The Unrest In Morocco

Morocco Joins In, Defying Predictions -- Wall Street Journal
Morocco protests: Five burned bodies found - minister -- BBC
Five dead in Morocco unrest after protests -- Reuters
'Five dead' in Morocco violence -- AFP
Riots in Moroccan city over utility costs -- Reuters
Bodies found after Moroccan protests -- CNN
Fears of Chaos Temper Calls for Change in Morocco -- New York Times
Tens of thousands march peacefully for reforms in Morocco -- L.A. Times
Protests in Morocco, but no revolt -- UPI
Moroccan leadership unlikely to fall -- UPI

Al Qaeda Supporters/Members Arrested In Morocco

Morocco: Police 'Dismantle Terrorist Network' -- AKI-Adnkronos

Rabat, 29 August (AKI) - Police on Friday dismantled a "dangerous terrorist network" allegedly linked to Al-Qaeda and arrested 15 suspects who were planning attacks in the country, the Moroccan news agency MAP reported, quoting police sources.

The 15-member terrorist network called 'Fath Al Andalus' was in possession of chemicals and electronic equipment used to make explosives, police sources said, cited by MAP.

The alleged terrorist network was planning attacks in Morocco and had "established operational links with foreign extremists of the Al-Qaeda organisation," MAP quoted the sources as saying.

The network was present in several Moroccan cities, MAP reported, citing police.

Three months ago, Moroccan security services broke up another 11-member terrorist network in the northern city of Fez and in Nador in the northeast.

The network is believed to have links with groups sending volunteers to Iraq and to training camps run by Al-Qaeda's branch in North Africa.

My Comment: Moroccan security and intelligence services have been very successful in stopping terrorist attacks. Chalk up another successful bust.