Islamists cry foul in Morocco polls

Rabat: Opposition Islamists said they had been robbed of victory by vote buying as Morocco's conservative Istiqlal party, part of a ruling coalition, won most seats in assembly polls according to results issued on Saturday.

Provisional tallies showed Istiqlal (Independence), a nationalist stalwart of the north African kingdom's independence struggle from France, won 52 seats ahead of the Islamist Justice and Development party (PJD) with 47 seats.

A complex voting system makes it almost impossible for any group to win a majority, and whatever the outcome, real power in the country of 33 million will remain with King Mohammed, who is executive head of state, military chief and religious leader.

The moderate Islamists of the PJD had been tipped to do well despite a record low turnout and had aimed to become the biggest party in the 325-strong assembly, which has limited powers.

But they scaled back their hopes when the results were published. Final results will be issued on Sunday.

"Money was our first enemy," PJD leader Saad Eddine Othmani said. "We think that the PJD is the (real) winner."

Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa dismissed the claim but said the government would examine any evidence.

"We took every measure to prevent such flaws and protect the election process from any illegal influence. We are ready to look at any complaint backed by evidence," he said.

The parliamentary polls were the second since King Mohammed came to the throne in 1999 and saw 33 parties vie with dozens of independents.

The elections were orderly and professional but marked by isolated irregularities, a multinational team of observers deployed by the US-based National Democratic Institute for International Affairs said in a statement.