Moroccans to protest skyrocketing prices, inflation

Moroccans have taken to the streets of the western city of Casablanca to protest rising prices as well as corruption in the country. While marching on Tuesday, the protesters expressed their fury over the North African country’s soaring inflation. Morocco has been witnessing rallies nearly every week since the protests, inspired by revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, hit the country. The demonstrations continued even after US-backed King Mohammed VI announced a number of reforms last June. Although the amendments granted more powers to the prime minister, the king retains his 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 decisive actions to promote social justice in the country. Anti-government demonstrations were also held across the country on Sunday. The protesters in the capital, Rabat, slammed the government’s crackdown on pro-reform rallies while demanding authorities to release political prisoners detained since the popular protest movement began on February 20, 2011. In Casablanca, dozens of protesters were injured when security forces clashed with the protesters during the Sunday rallies.