After lull, job protests resume in Morocco capital

After lull, job protests resume in Morocco capital | Top News | Reuters: "At least 1,000 protesters took to the streets of the Moroccan capital on Thursday to demand public sector jobs after a relative lull following the ousting of neighbour Tunisia's president by a popular uprising.

The protests resumed as the government's February 10 deadline expired for recruiting 4,500 highly-qualified graduates, Youssef Hdidou, who heads one of several groups of unemployed graduates, said.

'In a meeting with authorities on January 24, they asked us for a truce in the daily protests out of consideration for what they said was happening in the region,' Hdidou told Reuters.

Authoritarian Arab leaders are watching carefully for signs of unrest spreading through the region after revolts in Tunisia and Egypt. But Credit rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Fitch have said Morocco is the least likely Maghreb state to be affected by the wave of popular unrest.

Before the protest began, Communication Minister Khalid Naciri said the government was showing 'a lot of willingness' in trying to solve the issue of jobless graduates quickly.

Morocco witnesses at least 21 protests nationwide every day, he said. 'We consider this to be a normal average ... It's an indicator that reassures us,' Naciri told reporters"

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