Morocco's King Mohammed VI marked his first year on the thrown by releasing some 900 prisoners ahead of official celebrations Sunday.
The King on Saturday pardoned 899 prisoners, four of them who had been slapped with life sentences.
When he ascended to the thrown on July 30th, 1999, replacing his late father King Hassan II who had ruled for 38 years, King Mohammed vowed to move the country forward, and fight against poverty and social inequality.
But he said he had no "magic wand" to carry out reforms, and Moroccans have complained that their daily lives have been slow to change.
On Sunday, Morocco's press was more upbeat, however.
The Opinion newspaper, belonging to the political party, Istiglal, said King Mohammed VI's first year in power was "rich in results," and bode well for "the progress of his people."
The ruling Socialist party paper, Al Ittihad Al Ichtiraki, said the new king had demonstrated a "superior level" of management in running the country.
Morocco has long been criticized for its dismal human rights record, although activists have cited progress under the new king - RABAT (AFP)
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