Morocco set for fresh protests after demonstrators killed

Morocco was bracing itself Thursday for a sixth night of protests over corruption and public spending, a day after sporadic clashes with security forces turned deadly and two demonstrators were killed in Agadir in the country's south.  

The demonstrations across the usually stable North African kingdom have been fuelled by anger over social inequality as Morocco pushes forward major infrastructure projects to host the Africa Cup of Nations next month and the 2030 World Cup.

"We don't want the World Cup, health is a priority" and "we have stadiums, but what about hospitals?" protesters have chanted during the demonstrations that erupted Saturday with spates of violence in some cities.

The protests, which have focused on public health services and education also gained momentum last month following reports of the deaths of eight pregnant women at a public hospital in Agadir.

The protests were called by the group GenZ 212, a group formed around the online messaging platform Discord, and whose organisers remain unknown.

GenZ 212 has urged demonstrators not to turn to violence, announcing Thursday further "peaceful protests will be organised today, as part of a civilised and responsible expression of our demands".

The protests were set to begin at 1600 GMT, the group said, adding that gathering points would be announced later in the day.

Since the demonstrations started, hundreds of mostly young people have been arrested.

Two protesters were killed on Wednesday night when officers opened fire on a group of demonstrators they said were attempting to "storm" a law enforcement station near Agadir.

Local authorities said demonstrators wielding "bladed weapons" had attempted to "seize ammunition, equipment and service weapons" from the police station.

Morocco's interior ministry said on Wednesday that more than 400 people had been arrested during the rallies, with nearly 300 people -- mainly from security forces -- injured.

Some 134 people, six of whom in detention, are set to be tried in Rabat soon, according to lawyers.

On Wednesday, rallies in cities including Tangier and Tetouan in the country's northeast and Casablanca to the west were taking place with official authorisation for the first time since the gatherings began on Saturday.

Demonstrators called for "the fall of corruption" as well as "freedom, dignity and social justice", while some urged Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch to step down.

Despite its calls for protests, GenZ 212 has also asserted its "love for the homeland and king", referring to Morocco's monarch Mohamed VI, saying, however, it stands against some political parties.

While most of the protests have been peaceful, clashes and acts of vandalism erupted in some cities, including in Sidi Bibi, near Agadir, where demonstrators set offices of the local commune headquarters on fire, according to media reports and videos on social media.

In the city of Sale, north of the capital Rabat, an AFP journalist saw hooded demonstrators set fire to two police cars and a bank branch.

Ahead of Thursday's demonstrations, GenZ 212 has said it "rejects all forms of violence, vandalism or rioting". 

It reminded protesters "to respect the peaceful nature" of the movement.

© Agence France-Presse