(9 Sep 2007)
1. Various exterior of Hilton Hotel
2. Lousewies van der Laan, member international observation mission
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Lousewies van der Laan, international observation mission:
"Our group of observers did not witness any major irregularities, of course there was some confusion here and there. However there are widespread allegations of corruption, people to seem concerned about vote buying and even just the perception of corruption undermines faith in the democratic system and we suggest that anyone who has proof of any kind of corruption or vote buying, should go to the proper authorities and they should deal with it because we have to make sure that we have confidence in the system."
4. Exterior Hilton Hotel
STORYLINE:
An international observer said on Sunday that even though no major irregularities were witnessed in the Morocco Parliamentary election held on Friday, there were "widespread allegations of corruption" and vote buying.
Lousewies van der Laan told AP Television that "anyone who has proof of any kind of corruption or vote buying, should go to the proper authorities and they should deal with it because we have to make sure that we have confidence in the system."
Voters in Morocco deprived an Islamist party of an expected parliamentary victory on Friday, handing it instead to the conservative Istiqlal party, according to preliminary results announced on Saturday.
The results of Friday's vote - marred by a record-low turnout of 37 percent - meant continuity for this North African kingdom, which is an important US ally in the Arab Muslim world.
In a surprisingly strong showing, Istiqlal, of the ruling government coalition, won 52 seats in the lower house of parliament, Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa said.
The Islam-inspired Justice and Development Party, or PJD, whose growing strength in recent years had worried its secular rivals, had 47 seats.
The PJD accused the ruling secular parties of appealing to voters with hasty public works projects - and even buying votes - to thwart its predicted victory.
The PJD has garnered strength in recent years by tapping disillusionment with a government seen as increasingly distant from voters' needs, focusing on the poor and jobless youth.
Nearly 5 (m) million of Morocco's 33 million people live on less than 2 US dollars a day, according to the World Bank.
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