Morocco Cabinet reshuffle dilutes Islamist power


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RABAT, Morocco (AP) - Morocco has announced a government reshuffle on the eve of parliament's new session that sees the Islamists giving up the key foreign affairs portfolio.

The moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party on Thursday handed the Foreign Ministry over to Salaheddine Mezouar, the leader of its new coalition partner, a liberal party close to the palace.

After the Islamists' junior coalition partner pulled out of the government due to controversial subsidy reforms, it took months to negotiate a new government.

The new partner, the National Rally for Independents, shares the Islamists' liberal economic approach but is less vocal about needing political reform.

The Islamists came to power by pledging to fight corruption.

Mezouar, a former finance minister, was one of their initial targets, but the investigation against him was later dropped.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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