(RABAT, MAR) - Moroccans voted Friday in a referendum on curbing the near absolute powers of King Mohammed VI, who has offered reforms following protests inspired by pro-democracy uprisings around the Arab world.
Faced with demonstrations modelled on those that ousted long-serving leaders in Tunisia and Egypt, Mohammed VI announced the referendum last month to devolve some of his powers to the prime minister and parliament of the north African country.
The United States hailed the referendum on Friday, with State Department spokesman Mark Toner telling reporters it was "an important step in Morocco's ongoing democratic development."
"In this period of profound change, we think it's important and we congratulate the people of Morocco and their leadership for the peaceful referendum," he said.
Under a draft constitution voted on Friday, the king would remain head of state, the military, and the Islamic faith in Morocco.
But the prime minister, who would be chosen from the largest party elected to parliament, would take over as the head of government.
State television showed Mohammed VI, dressed in traditional Moroccan robes and wearing a red Fez hat, cast his ballot in the capital Rabat. He
made no public statement.
Analysts had said a low voter turnout could raise questions about the credibility of the vote, but officials said that the participation rate, after two-thirds of votes had been counted, had been 70.6 percent.
About 13 million of the country's 32 million people were registered to vote.
After casting his ballot, Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi said the new constitution would "propel Morocco into the ranks of democratic countries," the official MAP news agency reported.
Voters lined up in sweltering heat across the country to take part in the referendum.
At a polling station at a school in Sale, a city close to the capital Rabat, voter Youssef Ghanmi, a 35-year-old driver, said he had backed the king's reforms.
"I voted for the constitution because it allows for a separation of powers and a more independent judicial system, and will reinforce equality between men and women," he said.
Mohammed VI, who in 1999 took over the Arab world's longest-serving dynasty, offered reforms after the youth-based February 20 Movement organised weeks of protests that brought thousands to the streets to call for more democracy, better economic prospects and an end to corruption.
The proposed reforms fall short of the full constitutional monarchy many protesters were demanding and the movement urged a boycott of Friday's vote.
Abadila Maaelaynine, a February 20 member in Rabat, said the referendum vote had been flawed.
"There have been irregularities in all procedures of the referendum," he said, adding that the movement would continue to hold protests.
"This constitution does not change the situation. We still have a system where power is in the hands of the monarchy," he said.
Throughout a brief campaign, the new constitution was fiercely backed by Morocco's main political parties, unions, civic groups, religious leaders and media. The campaign was dominated by the "yes" side, with few signs of an organised "no" vote movement.
Along with changes granting the prime minister more executive authority, the new constitution would reinforce the independence of the judiciary and enlarge parliament's role.
It would also remove a reference to the king as "sacred", though he would remain "Commander of the Faithful" and "inviolable".
The new constitution would also guarantee more rights to women and make Berber an official language along with Arabic -- the first time a north African country has granted official status to the region's indigenous language.
