Morocco to vote for new constitution

Morocco's King Mohammed VI announced a "comprehensive constitutional reform" to be put to the people in a referendum, in his first speech following uprisings across the Arab world.Less than a month after protests erupted in Morocco demanding more social justice and limits on his powers, the king pledged to draw up a new draft constitution by June."We have decided to undertake a comprehensive constitutional reform," King Mohammed said Wednesday, underlining his "firm commitment to giving a strong impetus to the dynamic and deep reforms... taking place."

The monarch announced the formation of a commission to work on the constitutional revisions, with proposals to be made to him by June. A referendum would be held on the draft constitution, he added.The live broadcast was the first time the king has delivered an address to the nation since thousands of people demonstrated in several cities on 20th February demanding political reform and limits on his powers.They were the first protests in the country since the start of the uprisings across the Arab world that toppled the presidents of Tunisia and Egypt this year.There have been other peaceful rallies since then, including in the capital Rabat and the country's biggest city Casablanca, with young activists campaigning for greater democracy using the Facebook social network to call for new demonstrations on 20th March.Six people were killed in unrest that erupted after the 20th February demonstrations, including five found burned to death in a bank set ablaze by people whom officials labelled vandals.Another 128, including 115 members of the security forces, were wounded in the violence and 120 people were arrested, the interior ministry said. Dozens of vehicles and buildings were also damaged or set alight.Media Agencies