Low participation in February 20 demonstration

The February 20 demonstration in various Moroccan cities to express social and economic demands was marked by low participation, MAP correspondents in different Moroccan regions said.

About 200 people gathered shortly after 10:00 am in the Bab El Had Square in Rabat and almost 150 people in the Mohammed V Square in Casablanca. The number of protesters in Rabat and Casablanca was subsequently increased to 2,000 and 1,000 people respectively at around 11:00 am, according to the organizers.

    In Marrakech, 600 people gathered in Bab Doukkala Square, shortly before the start of the march, before the number reaches 900 individuals, who went to the El Harti Square, while in Oujda the number of people who took to the eastern city’s main street reached 1,300 people.

    In Tangier, 450 people gathered before Tareq Beni Makada to move off Place des Nations.

    In Tetouan, only 500 people staged a demonstration in the Moulay Mehdi Saquare, while 150 people gathered around 10H00 in El Amal Square in Agadir.

    About forty people demonstrated in Laayoune (Morocco’s south).

Sunday protests, part of democratic practice- Government Spokesman
Moscow - Sunday protests in Morocco are normal and part of the practice of democracy, Communication Minister and Government Spokesperson Khalid Naciri said on Sunday.
Protests in Morocco are “familiar” and the demands are “ordinary”, Naciri said on Sunday in an interview with Russia Today TV channel.

He explained that the rallies took place in conformity with the law and public order preservation in an environment of “stability”. This, he said, is a source of pride for all Moroccans.

“Unlike most Arab countries, rallies and protests are common in Morocco,” Naciri said.

“The government deems that protesters demands remain at large understandable and legitimate at the social, economic, political and cultural levels,” he said, adding that these demands are on the agenda of the majority of political parties.

He made it clear that Morocco is committed and forging ahead on path of reinforcing democracy.