Terrorism court sentenced 7 to 1-4 years for links to May 2003 Casablanca attacks 28 December. 7 others sentenced for receiving training from Algeria’s Groupe Salafiste pour la predication et le combat (GSPC), now core of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

King Mohammed VI condemned Spanish King Juan Carlos’s visit to Spanish enclaves Ceuta and Melilla; withdrew ambassador from Madrid. Moroccan Senator Yahia detained briefly by Spanish police in Melilla after protesting visit. Security services stepped up collaboration with Algerian counterparts, arresting 3 suspected Al Qaeda in the Maghreb members at Oujda border town 2 November.

New government announced 15 October: alliance between conservative Istiqlal, centre-right RNI, Socialist Union of Popular Forces and leftist PPS. King Mohammed used prerogative to appoint interior, foreign, defence, religious and finance portfolios. PM El Fassi presented program to parliament 24 October. Largest opposition party, Islamist PJD, appointed hardliner Mustafa Ramid parliament group head, promising more forceful role.

Parliamentary elections held 8 September with low turnout of 37%. Centre-right Istiqlal Party led with 52 seats in 325-seat lower assembly, closely followed by moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (46), People’s Movement (41), National Rally of Independents (39) and Socialist Union of People’s Forces (38). King Mohammed V appointed Istiqlal’s Abbas El Fassi new PM 19 September. U.S. signed Millennium Challenge Corporation 5-year aid deal worth $698m, largest amount under program, 31 August. Government cancelled bread price rise after violent protests in Sefou 23 September reportedly left around 300 injured.

Police detained 15 suspected al-Qaeda members 10 July after warnings of imminent terror attack. 2 journalists and army officer detained for alleged leak of secret intelligence on al-Qaeda plot. 11 suspected Islamists sentenced 2-4 years for planning “terrorist acts” 25 July.

Security forces announced break-up of recruitment network for al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb 6 May; 20 arrested. Courts continued to examine those suspected of links to March, April suicide bombers.

Attacks by 2 suicide bombers near U.S consulate in Casablanca 14 April followed death of 4 militants during police raid.

Authorities pledged to pursue war against terrorism “without respite” after formerly convicted terrorist Abdelfattah Raydi blew himself up in internet café in Casablanca slum 11 March after discovered to be accessing terrorist sites. Security officials believe Raydi and 12 others planned to blow up foreign ships at Casablanca port and tourist facilities in Agadir, Marrakech and Essaouira; 24 suspects arrested in connection.

Government said had broken “terrorist network” after arresting 56 people alleged to belong to previously unknown El Mehdi Support Group and suspected of planning attacks in north.

Government launched unprecedented nationwide crackdown on Islamic Justice and Charity opposition movement, after group launched new open recruitment campaign. Authorities raided offices and arrested over 2,000 activists, most of whom quickly released.