Morocco approves King Mohammed's constitutional reforms

Moroccans have approved constitutional reforms put forward by King Mohammed VI in response to recent pro-democracy protests, preliminary results show.

 

With almost all the ballots counted, 98.5% of people had voted in favour, Interior Minister Taib Cherkaoui said.

 

The reforms grant executive powers to a prime minister, but the king is retained as head of the military, religious authorities and judiciary.

 

The concessions come after protests inspired by the so-called Arab Spring.

 

Popular uprisings have toppled Presidents Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.

 

(BBC/VOVNews)