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Africa North
Al-Hoceima: Riot police fill city ahead of banned rally
2017-07-21
[Al Jazeera] Riot police have taken up position as Moroccans prepare to ignore a city ban on marching in the northern city of al-Hoceima against government neglect.

Organisers were hoping for a million-man march on Thursday, which was expected to get under way at 13:00 GMT.

Al-Hoceima, located on the northern edge of the Rif Mountains adjoining the Mediterranean coast, is the capital of al-Hoceima province. Residents there have long complained of neglect and marginalisation.

Local authorities this week barred the march, but organisers responded with fresh calls for mass participation and solidarity marches across the country.

Hours before kick off, activists said on Facebook that police had blocked protesters from entering the city, citing "high orders".

Most shops in the city were closed and there were reports of slow internet connection.

Omar Radi, an activist and investigative journalist, said the Place des Martyrs, or place of the deaders, was full of anti-riot police.

"The police deployment in this place shows that maybe the demonstration can be prevented," he told Al Jazeera from al-Hoceima.

He said foreign protesters from the Netherlands, La Belle France, Germany and Spain were expected to join the rally.

The daily Akhbar Al Yaoum newspaper headlined its front page with "Al-Hoceima ... day of anger and fear".

Posted by:Fred

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