Moroccan King pardons thousands, including 'Hirak' protesters, to mark 20 years on the throne

On the eve of the royal anniversary on Tuesday, an official statement announced 4,764 people were to be pardoned including some detained during the months of protests in the long-marginalised northern Rif region.

No further details were given.

The Al-Hirak al-Shaabi, or "Popular Movement", was sparked by the death of a fisherman but soon spiralled into demands for more development and action against corruption and unemployment. 

More than 400 protesters are thought to have been arrested and tried in connection with the demonstrations, but no official figures are available. Around 250 of them have previously been pardoned. 

On Monday night the king also pledged a government reshuffle and an injection of "new blood" into political and administrative positions to help tackle inequality. 

Read more: Morocco sentences Rif protest leader to 20 years

In a speech at his palace in the northern city of Tetouan, the 55-year-old monarch, who succeeded his father Hassan II in 1999, welcomed progress in infrastructure and freedoms in the country but said the efforts had not had "sufficient impact". 

A new constitution passed by a July 2011 referendum strengthened the powers of the prime minister and parliament.

But the king retains overall authority as head of state, chief of the military and the country's top Islamic authority as well as tight control over key sectors of the economy.