The participation rate in the regions of the Sahara was as follows: Oued Eddahab Lagouira: 92.19, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia Al Hamra: 84.05, Guelmim-Smara: 86.76.

Voters in the southern regions have thus marked a new step towards building democracy in Morocco and consecration of national unity and territorial integrity of the kingdom.

At the opening of polling stations, voters massively flocked to fulfill their duty, in a burst of citizenship and enthusiasm, reflecting their determination to contribute to the consecration of national unity and foundations of the rule of law and institutions. 

This participation, which carries deeper meanings, indicating a strong will of local people who like to express pride in their Moroccan identity, their mobilization to deal with enemies of the territorial integrity and their accession to the work of building democracy and strengthening the foundations of development.

According to the Minister of the Interior, the results at the national level were as follows: the number of voters who voted in favor of the proposed new constitution reached 9,653,492, or 98.50 pc, according to provisional results of the constitutional referendum on Friday, said on Saturday, the Interior Minister, Mr. Taieb Cherqaoui.

Voters who rejected the project amounted to 146,718 voters, or 1.5 pc, the minister said in a statement to the press.

According to provisional results of the referendum as announced by the 39,969 polling stations set up throughout the country, the number of registered voters was 13,451,404, with 9,881,922 votes, i.e. a turnout of 73.46 pc, the minister added.

Null ballots reached 81,712, while valid votes attained 9,800,210, he said.

- News concerning Western Sahara issue / Corcas -