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3rd Night of Protests in N. Morocco, Protest Leader Arrested

3rd Night of Protests in N. Morocco, Protest Leader Arrested
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Protesters rallied for a third night running in Morocco's city of Al-Hoceima, in a northern region of the country where there has been growing social unrest.

3rd Night of Protests in N. Morocco, Protest Leader Arrested

Meanwhile, the Moroccan authorities arrested the fugitive leader of the protest movement that has shaken the country's northern Rif region for six months, officials said Monday.

Nasser Zefzafi, who had been on the run since Friday, was detained Monday, said a government source and another official from the interior ministry.

Meanwhile, an AFP journalist saw several hundred mainly young demonstrators gathered in two neighborhoods of the city Sunday night, chanting "The state is corrupt!" and "Dignity!"

3rd Night of Protests in N. Morocco, Protest Leader Arrested

They also shouted "We are all Zefzafi!"

The protesters attempted to make their way to the city's central square but were blocked by security forces. After an hour-long face-off with police the youths dispersed without incident.

"We cannot take a single step, the police are everywhere," an activist in the city told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The activist said a solidarity rally had taken place in the nearby city of Imzouren.

Protests were also reported in two other northern cities, Nador and Tanger, as well as in Casablanca and the capital Rabat, where some 300 people took part.

Morocco's northern Rif region has been shaken by more than six months of social unrest since the death in October of a fishmonger crushed in a rubbish truck as he protested against the seizure of swordfish caught out of season.

Evening protests followed Friday and Saturday, with demonstrators clashing with police.

As of late Sunday police arrested 22 people in connection with the disturbances, according to officials.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

 

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