Islamic party committed to democracy, vows new chief
Morocco, Politics, 4/13/2004

The Party of Justice and Development (PJD) is committed to promote democracy in Morocco, vowed, in Rabat Sunday, its new leader Saadeddine Othmani following his election by the party's 5th national congress.

Othmani, 48, took over the leadership of the only Islamic party in Morocco in replacement of the party's founder, 84 year- old Dr Abdelkrim Al Khatib.

The PJD will "continue to work for the strengthening of coordination and cooperation with the other political parties in the country's interest," added the new leader of the opposition party represented in the parliament.

In a final communique, the party underlined its "commitment to Islam, Constitutional monarchy and defense of the country's territorial integrity."

The PJD reiterated its condemnation of the May 16 terrorist attacks in Casablanca that killed 45 people including the 12 suicide bombers. It also warned against "amalgam between Islam and terrorism and between Moroccans and terrorists."

The party said it was satisfied with accomplishments in human rights in Morocco during the past years, calling however for a "rupture with past practices" and for avoiding to deal with terrorism with a "security approach."

On the international level, the congress reiterated support to the struggle of the Palestinian people against Israeli occupation forces, and rejected any normalization with Israel as well as American aggression against the Iraqi People.

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