Ruling Islamists Keep Upper Hand In Morocco Vote

Morocco's ruling Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) has won elections in that North African country but failed to avoid the need for coalition talks to form a government.

The country's interior minister said final results from the October 7 voting give the PJD 125 seats in the 395-seat parliament.

Rivals from the liberal Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) and conservative Istiqlal party followed with 102 and 46 seats, respectively.

The elections among 30 parties were seen as a further test of the system that emerged after Arab Spring protests five years ago.

Officials put turnout at 43 percent of Morocco's 6.8 million voters.

Most of the power in Morocco remains with King Muhammad VI.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters