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A “terrorist network” active in several cities and linked to al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb was broken up, a Moroccan security official said. The leader of the “Mujahideen of Morocco,” who has links to AQIM’s network in other countries, was detained.

An estimated 40,000 Moroccans participated in a pro-Palestinian march in the capital of Rabat. The march was staged by Al-Adl Wal Ihsan, an Islamist group.

A terrorism court handed down sentences ranging from one to six years to 27 men accused of plotting terror attacks. The cell leader was identified as Hicham El Ba, and at least one member of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is among the group.

King Mohammed pardoned several Islamist leaders during the holiday to celebrate the birth of the Prophet Mohammed. Among those freed was Hassan Kettani, the ideological leader of Salafia Jihadia, which has carried out suicide attacks in Morocco.

A court sentenced nine men for their roles in the bombing at a Marrakesh cafe that killed 17 people. The cell leader was sentenced to death, his deputy was given a life sentence, and seven others received jail terms ranging from three to four years.

Police detained five members of an al Qaeda-linked cell in Sale and Casablanca. The cell pledged allegiance to Ayman al Zawahiri; used the Internet to link up with al Qaeda groups in Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Yemen, and Somalia; and plotted attacks against Western targets.

Security forces broke up an al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb cell known as the Al-Battar Brigade. Three members of the cell, which planned to travel outside the country to fight, were detained.

Adel Othmani, the prime suspect in the Marrakesh bombing that killed 17 people in April, retracted his confession and told the court he was set up by the intelligence service. Othmani faces the death penalty if convicted.

King Mohammed VI vowed to change the constitution to give more power to the parliament and the prime minister, as well as reform the judiciary. The king would still exercise power with the military, national security, and religious affairs.

France has opened an investigation into the April 28 bombing at a cafe in Marrakesh that killed 17 people. Eight French citizens were among those killed in the attack.

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb denied involvement in the bombing at a cafe in Marrakesh that killed 16 people. “We deny any link to this explosion and declare we are in no way involved in this operation,” the AQIM statement said.

The interior minister said the man who built the bomb that killed 16 people at a cafe in Marrakesh “was expelled from Portugal in 2004 and from Libya in 2008, when he was trying to get to Iraq.” The bomb maker is a Salafist and learned how to build the bomb on the internet.

Police arrested three suspects thought to be involved with the April 28 bombing at a cafe in Marrakesh that killed 16 people. The lead suspect is said to be “loyal” to al Qaeda.

The interior minister said that the explosion in Marrakesh that killed 16 people was caused by a remotely detonated bomb. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is the prime suspect in the Marrakesh attack, as the explosive used was TATP.

Minister of Public Affairs Khalid Naciri said that al Qaeda was among several suspects in yesterday’s suicide attack that killed 15 people at a cafe in Marrakesh. Ten foreigners were among those killed.

Fifteen people, including six Frenchmen and four foreigners, were killed in a bombing at a cafe in Marrakesh. Two witnesses claimed it was a suicide bombing.

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Rabat, Marrakech, and Casablanca to demand that the King devolve powers. Unlike protests in other Muslim countries, the demonstrations in Morocco have been peaceful.

The government may prosecute five border guards for aiding al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The guards are accused of helping smuggle weapons to a 27-man-strong AQIM cell whose members were recently detained.

Moroccan security forces arrested 27 people accused of plotting to attack security forces and rob banks. The men belonged to a “terrorist cell” commanded by an al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb operative tasked with setting up a base in the Western Sahara.

Police arrested six members of a terror cell who have expertise in manufacturing explosives and were plotting to carry out car bombings and other attacks. The cell is thought to be targeting Moroccan security forces and other targets in the country and abroad.