00:00Lawyers in Morocco have called off a weeks-long strike after the government suspended a controversial bill to reform the
00:06legal sector and agreed to open talks with the profession.
00:10A key lawyers' association said the decision came after Prime Minister Aziz Ahanoush promised to personally oversee changes to the
00:19draft law.
00:20He set up a joint commission bringing together government officials and representatives from the Association of Moroccan Bars, known as
00:28EBAM.
00:28The bill, introduced by Justice Minister Abdel Latif Ubi, was presented as a way to modernize the profession and strengthen
00:36the fight against corruption.
00:37It was approved by the government in December and was due to go before Parliament.
00:42But lawyers across the country launched a rolling strike, arguing the reform threatened their independence and was being pushed through
00:49without proper consultation.
00:51Earlier this month, thousands of lawyers in black robes rallied in Cape Rabat to protest the plan.
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