Morocco Elections

Morocco's new legislature is split into three nearly identical blocs, election results showed Saturday, presaging months of protracted negotiations among opposition, pro-government and centrist parties. King Hassan II had billed Friday's vote as the culmination of a crucial set of political reforms, and his powerful interior minister, Driss Basri, hailed the results as "a victory for democracy.

Opposition Socialist candidates appeared today to be heading for an early lead in preliminary results of voting for Morocco's new parliament, where for the first time Islamists will also have a voice.

The Moroccan government said voters gave overwhelming approval to a revised constitution that King Hassan II says will grant more authority to a new Parliament and bring a younger generation to high political office.