RABAT (AFP)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton left Rabat for home on Sunday after a democracy-boosting tour of north Africa that took her to Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.
Clinton said after talks with her Moroccan counterpart Saad Eddine Othmani that “so much has changed since my last visit (but) what has not changed is our commitment to our friendship”.
She was referring to a new constitution adopted in July at the behest of King Mohammed VI, and to legislative polls that followed in November, won by moderate Islamists.
Clinton’s north African tour began in Tunis on Friday when she took part in a “Friends of Syria” international gathering.
She said in Rabat on Sunday that the international community’s strategy in the Syria crisis should follow three guidelines: “Providing immediate humanitarian assistance; increasing the pressure on the Assad regime; and helping to prepare for a democratic transition”.
“We continue to believe that those around Assad are quite concerned about the brutal attacks going on.
“All Syrians should be working together to see a better future.”
“I want to reiterate my message to those Syrians who still support Assad, especially members of the Syrian military and business community: the longer you support the regime campaign of violence against your brothers and sisters, the more it will stain your honor.”
Meanwhile in Casablanca, 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the capital, thousands called for the ouster of the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
A peaceful protest march that drew nearly 20,000 people according to organisers was organised by Morocco’s most radical Islamist movement Al Adl wa Ihsan. Police put the attendance figure at 6,000.
Political parties’ and unions’ youth movements also joined the march. Members of Morocco’s Syrian community attended carrying the rebels’ new green-black-white flag.
Demonstrators also called for Syria’s ambassador to Rabat to leave his post and Arab countries to break off relations with the Assad regime.
In Algiers on Saturday, Clinton met with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, urging Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco to maintain the momentum of the democratisation brought about by the Arab Spring by deepening reforms.
