Morocco conservatives lead Islamists, count continues

RABAT, Sept 8 (Reuters) Morocco's conservative Istiqlal party led the way in the kingdom's parliamentary elections after around half the seats were accounted for, state television reported today.

Istiqlal (Independence) had 22 seats, ahead of the Islamist Justice and Development party with 19 seats and the Rally of Independents with 18, TVM reported.

The Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), which dominates the outgoing coalition government, lay in fifth place with 15 seats.

The rest was divided between a host of smaller parties and dozens of independents including former deputy interior minister Fouad Ali el Himma, who stepped down from his job last month to run for parliament.

The Interior Ministry will give more detailed figures later today, with final results due late tomorrow.

The parliamentary polls were the second of King Mohammed's nine-year reign and saw 33 parties vie with dozens of independents for seats in the 325-member lower house.

A complex voting system makes it almost impossible for any group to win a majority, and whatever the outcome, real power will remain with the king, who is executive head of state, military chief and religious leader.

REUTERS PDT KN2318