Morocco's Leading Opposition Party Elects Moderate Secretary General

Rabat, Morocco (AHN) - Morocco's Islamist party Justice and Development (PJD) elected moderate Abdelillah Benkirane as its new secretary general, the official news agency reports.

With 684 votes, Benkirane beat out his nearest competitor outgoing Saad Eddine Othmani who garnered 495 votes from the 1,628 delegates at the party's 6th national congress, Maghreb Arabe Presse reported Monday.

PJD is the largest opposition party to the leading conservative Istiqlal party in Morocco's 325-member parliament. The PJD won 46 seats in the election last year.

Benkirane, 53, was trained as an engineer and is an established leader within the PJD.

He is a leader in the Tawhid wal Islah (Unity and Reform) Islamic civic association. Most of the activists and top officials reportedly come from that association, along with most voters.

Benkirane has headed the National Council, which is the policy-decision making arm of PJD.

In addition, Benkirane supports cooperation with Morocco's secular government and with its monarchy to foster acceptance of moderate Islamists and to try to stem support for radical Islamists and al Qaeda there.