Reshuffle restores Morocco government's majority

Rabat: Morocco's coalition government regained its majority in parliament on Wednesday when King Mohammad drafted an opposition party leader into the cabinet.

King Mohammad appointed Mohand Laenser, the centre-right Popular Movement leader, as a state minister without portfolio and Mohammad Ouzzine, a senior official from the same party, as junior foreign minister, an official statement said.

The move secures the support of the Popular Movements' more than 40 lawmakers for the government.

The government lost control of the legislative body in May when a party in the coalition withdrew its support, raising questions over whether the cabinet could stay in power.