RABAT, July 18 (Reuters) – The Moroccan government will sell
part of its 30 percent stake in Maroc Telecom after a
spending push to calm street protests eroded its public finances
and raised concern over its ability to fund key projects.

A source familiar with the plan told Reuters on Friday the
government had revived plans to sell part of its stake.

RABAT (Reuters) – Thousands of supporters and opponents of constitutional changes offered by Morocco’s king protested Sunday, indicating debate over the country’s future sparked by the “Arab Spring” uprisings has not ended.

Protests took place in three cities and passed off without any clashes. The biggest show of strength by the opposition was in the northern city of Tangier where witnesses said about 12,000 marched to press the 47-year-old king for deeper reforms.

RABAT, July 15 (Reuters) – Morocco’s government — after a
surge in spending to calm street protests — is again
considering the sale of a portion of its 30 percent stake in
Maroc Telecom (IAM.CS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) (IAM.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), a source familiar with the
matter said, .

“It (Maroc Telecom stake sale) is back on the government’s
agenda,” said the source on condition of anonymity. The source
declined to elaborate.

RABAT/PARIS, July 13 (Reuters) – An investment firm owned
by Morocco’s royal family has sold a 41 percent stake in the
country’s biggest cooking oil producer to French oilseed giant
Sofiproteol for $164.5 million.

National Investment Company, or SNI, said it sold a 41
percent stake in Lesieur Cristal (LESU.CS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) to Sofiproteol for
an average 115 dirhams ($14.3) per share, which represents a
1.5 percent premium over Lesieur’s closing price on Tuesday,
before the sale was announced.

RABAT (Reuters) – Morocco’s main independent human rights group demanded a judicial investigation into what it said were serious violations that affected the outcome of a July 1 referendum on constitutional reforms.

King Mohammed is expected to hand over some of his powers to elected officials under the new charter while retaining a key say over strategic decisions.

RABAT (Reuters) – Thousands of Moroccans staged protests on Sunday, the latest in a series of peaceful demonstrations by a youth-led movement to demand reforms that go beyond constitutional changes crafted by the palace.

Anti-riot police deployed in the center of Rabat to prevent up to 2,000 sympathisers of the February 20 opposition movement from clashing with those in favor of the constitutional reform.

RABAT (Reuters) – Libyan rebels looked set for another push against leader Muammar Gaddafi’s forces on Friday, just days after the opposition made hefty advances toward Tripoli on two fronts.

A rebel sympathizer in Misrata, on Libya’s Mediterranean coast, told Reuters that rebels had been moving closer to neighboring Zlitan, one of a chain of government-controlled towns blocking their advance to Tripoli.

TANGIER, Morocco (Reuters) – Thousands of people protested in Morocco on Sunday over constitutional reforms they said did not go far enough, but an official said they were out-numbered by people demonstrating in support of the changes.

Morocco’s King Mohammed handed over some of his powers to elected officials in a referendum viewed in other Arab monarchies as a test case for whether reform can hold back the wave of “Arab Spring” uprisings sweeping the region.

RABAT (Reuters) – Morocco’s “Arab Spring” protesters said they were undeterred despite a landslide victory for King Mohammed in a referendum on constitutional changes they say do nothing to ease his autocratic grip on power.

Preliminary results of Friday’s poll showed 98.5 percent of voters approved the text on turnout officials estimated at 73 percent. Opposition said the turnout figure looked inflated and alleged irregularities in voting procedures.

RABAT (Reuters) – Morocco’s “Arab Spring” protesters vowed on Saturday to pursue demonstrations after King Mohammed scored an avalanche referendum victory on constitutional changes they say do nothing to ease his tight grip on power.

Preliminary results of Friday’s poll showed 98.5 percent of voters approved the text on turnout official estimated at 73 percent. Opposition said the turnout figure looked inflated and alleged irregularities in voting procedures.