Protests break out in northern Morocco

Morocco's state news agency on Monday reported that anti-government riots have spread in the northern part of the North African country, resulting in serious injuries among security forces. Security forces broke up a protest march Sunday from the village of Imzouren in the Rif mountains about 280 miles (450 kilometres) from the capital Rabat. The report said police were injured, some grievously, without specifying any numbers. There have been protests in the nearby village of Ben Bouayache since March 2 after security forces arrested a local leader of the February 20th pro-democracy movement. The agency has reported at least 38 arrests since the demonstrations began. The protesters slammed the government's crackdown on pro-reform rallies and demanded the release of political prisoners detained since protests kicked off last February. The Rif mountains are impoverished and a hotbed of anti-government sentiment. Press TV reported that protest rallies were staged in the capital Rabat as well as several other cities throughout the Arab state on Sunday. Morocco has been witnessing rallies almost every week since last year despite a number of reforms announced by US-backed King Mohammed VI. The new constitution grants more powers to the prime minister but the king still has veto power over most government decisions. Moroccans, however, insist that the reforms do not go far enough and want deeper political changes as well as a decisive action against corruption and unemployment.