20110702
xinhua
RABAT, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Around 60.3 percent of Moroccan registered voters voted in the referendum for a new draft constitution Friday, and the voting process is "orderly and smooth, " said a communique issued by the Moroccan interior ministry.

The referendum, on enhancing the powers of the Prime Minister and the parliament and promoting other political reforms, was carried out from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time (0700 GMT to 1700 GMT) , and the preliminary result is expected to come out in the midnight.

Morocco's King Muhammed VI proposed changes to the country's constitution in a live speech on June 17.

The changes strengthen the authority of the country's prime minister and parliament, and the prime minister would become the " president of the government", and would be able to appoint government officials, an authority previously held only by the king, King Muhammed VI announced.

The prime minister would have the power to dissolve the parliament, he said, adding the king would remain a key power- broker in the security, military and religious fields.

Official figures say 13 million Moroccans have registered to vote, 54 percent were men and 45 percent were women. Preliminary indications said the turnout would hit 60 percent of eligible voters.

Most political forces, trade unions and civil organizations expressed their support for the constitution.

The referendum is expected to end up with yes, thanks to a massive campaign by the government in media outlets and even in mosques to urge Moroccan voters to back reforms.

Like other countries in the region, Morocco has witnessed pro- democracy demonstrations but the scale of these protests had not reached to pose a major threat to the king as most of protests were for a lack of freedom, weak economy and political corruption.