Istiqlal Party Quits Morocco's Islamist-led Govt Tuesday July 9,2013

Istiqlal Party is the second-largest party in Moroccan Parliament with 60 seats after the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD)with 107 seats which won elections held in late 2011. The PJD will now have to find a new coalition partner or call elections

The secular centre-right Istiqlal party said five of its six ministers had resigned. It is not clear if Education Minister Mohammed el-Ouafa has done so.

Announcing its withdrawal from the government on Tuesday July 9,2013, Istiqlal spokesman Adil Benhamza accused Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane of "acting like the head of a political party rather than the head of a government that represents the people"

Istiqlal, which controlled the finance ministry, has criticised the government's plan to cut by about 20% subsidies of basic goods, which cost about $6.16bn (£4.14bn), or 6.4% of GDP. The cuts are due to take effect at the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which begins on Wednesday July 10,2013