RABAT: Polls closed in Morocco Friday in a referendum on curbing the vast powers of King Mohammed VI, who has offered reforms in the wake of pro-democracy uprisings in the Arab world. Polls closed at 7:00 p.m. (1800 GMT) after 11 hours of voting. At 5:30 P.M. voter turnout was 60.3 percent, the interior ministry said. Preliminary results were expected later Friday. Faced with protests modelled on the Arab Spring uprisings, the king announced the referendum on a new constitution last month to devolve some of his powers to the prime minister and parliament of the north African country. Under the draft constitution, the king would remain head of state, the military, and the Islamic faith in Morocco, but the prime minister, chosen from the largest party elected to parliament, would take over as head of government. Analysts say there is little doubt voters will approve the new constitution. The reforms fall short of the full constitutional monarchy many protesters were demanding and the youth-based February 20 Movement, which organised weeks of protests that brought thousands to the streets to call for more democracy, has urged its supporters to boycott Friday's vote.
