Al Jazeera English - News - Morocco Bans Political Party

Moastassim is alleged to be linked to a "terror
network." [AFP]

Morocco has banned the Al Badil Al Hadari party after the authorities linked its leader to a "terrorist network," the prime minister's office said.

Mustapha Moastassim, the party's leader, was among 32 people arrested by police earlier this week suspected of involvement in planning attacks against Moroccan targets.

Abbas El Fassi's office said in statement that were "serious indications of the involvement of the party's main leaders" in the alleged network.

Al Badil Al Hadari is a religious party that contested national elections last September but failed to win a seat in the national assembly.

Police said the network was headed by Abdelkader Belliraj, a Moroccan who lived in Belgium.

"The prime minister decreed the dismantling of al Badil al Hadari within the framework of the break-up of the Belliraj terrorist network and in the light of the proven links between this network and the creation of this party," the statement said.

'Weapons found'

The interior ministry said police discovered at least 34 weapons, including two assault rifles, when they raided homes and offices of the suspects.

Moroccan authorities have arrested more than 3,000 people since suicide bombings in Casablanca in 2003 killed 45 people.

Morocco considered banning the religious based Justice and Development Party (PJD) after the bombings but it survived the crisis.

The largest opposition movement, Al Adl Wal Ihssane (Justice and Charity), is tolerated by King Mohammed's government but banned from mainstream politics because of its open hostility to the monarchy.