Islamic party gains ground in Morocco

RABAT, Morocco -- An Islamic party that favors making women wear veils, banning alcohol and amputating thieves' hands said Saturday it was poised to become a major force in Moroccan politics after a solid showing in legislative elections.

But a full 24 hours after polls closed on Friday, the government was still unable to provide an official count. An Interior Ministry news conference that was expected to provide results was canceled Saturday and rescheduled for today.

The Interior Ministry blamed the delay on the large number of polling stations, new procedures aimed at curbing vote fraud and complex calculations being used to distribute seats on the basis of proportional representation.

Despite scattered reports of election-related violence, attempted vote-buying and other problems, many candidates and voters said they were satisfied the poll was more fair than in the past.

Officials said the Justice and Development Party, the only Islamic group in parliament, posted strong gains. Officials from rival parties also said the group, known as the PJD, appeared to have made major progress, perhaps capturing 10 percent of the seats.

PJD leaders were buoyant, saying they expected to more than double their representation in parliament's lower house. The party previously held 14 of the 325 seats.

"I think we'll be among the foremost parties," said Abdel Aziz Rabbah, a PJD election spokesman. "We are reorganizing the field of politics."

Twenty-six parties covering the spectrum contested Friday's election and none were expected to emerge with a majority. The official results were expected to be followed by a period of uncertainty as parties worked to piece together a coalition government.

Nevertheless, a solid showing by the PJD would appear to confirm signs Islamic sentiment is growing in this moderate Muslim-Arab country.

Mustapha Ramid, a senior party leader, said the PJD would like Islamic sharia law -- including cutting off thieves' hands -- to be applied in Morocco.

"Long-term, we want sharia applied completely," he said.

Rabbah said the party also wants to ban alcohol, phase out the liquor industry and establish Islamic banks. He also said he found it "incredible" that some young Moroccan women wear revealing clothes.

In cities such as the capital, Rabat, it is difficult to imagine how the PJD's vision could become reality. Bars that serve Moroccan-brewed beer are packed late into the evening with Moroccan men.

The executive powers held by Morocco's king, Mohammed VI, also present another obstacle to any PJD effort to push for sharia. The king appoints the prime minister and controls key ministries: the interior, defense, religious affairs, justice and foreign affairs.

If confirmed, the party's gains would be doubly remarkable because it only contested 55 of the 91 constituencies. Rabbah said the party deliberately limited its participation because it was aware that a major electoral victory by the PJD could cause concern in Morocco and overseas.

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