'Five Killed' In Morocco Protests

Moroccan protesters in Casablanca on February 20

Morocco's interior minister, Taeib Cherqaoui, says five people were killed during demonstrations on February 20 in which protesters took to the streets demanding that King Mohammed give up some of his powers, dismiss the government, and clamp down on corruption.

Cherqaoui told reporters that more than 100 people were wounded by, as he said, "troublemakers" and some 120 people have been arrested.

He also said the charred bodies of five people were found in a burned-out bank.

Estimates say some 3,000 to 5,000 participated in the the protest, which signaled Morocco's entry into the wave of public protests sweeping much of the Middle East and North Africa.

compiled from agency reports