Moroccans voted Friday in a referendum on curbing the near absolute powers of King Mohammed VI, who has offered reforms following protests inspired by pro-democracy uprisings around the Arab world.

Faced with demonstrations modelled on those that ousted long-serving leaders in Tunisia and Egypt, Mohammed VI announced the referendum last month to devolve some of his powers to the prime minister and parliament of the north African country.

Under a draft constitution being voted on Friday, the king would remain head of state, the military, and the Islamic faith in Morocco, but the prime minister, who would be chosen from the largest party elected to parliament, would take over as the head of government.

State television showed Mohammed VI, dressed in traditional Moroccan robes and wearing a red Fez hat, casting his ballot in the capital Rabat. He made no public statement.

Polls closed at 7:00 pm (1800 GMT) after 11 hours of voting, with official voter turnout at 60.3 percent at 5:30 pm. About 13 million of the country's 32 million people were registered to vote.

Preliminary results are expected later Friday, but analysts say there is little doubt voters will approve the new constitution.

After casting his ballot, Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi said the new constitution would "propel Morocco into the ranks of democratic countries," the official MAP news agency reported.

Voters lined up in sweltering heat across the country to take part in the referendum.

At a polling station at a school in Sale, a city close to the capital Rabat, voter Youssef Ghanmi, a 35-year-old driver, said he had backed the king's reforms.

"I voted for the constitution because it allows for a separation of powers and a more independent judicial system, and will reinforce equality between men and women," he said.

Mohammed VI, who in 1999 took over the Arab world's longest-serving dynasty, offered reforms after the youth-based February 20 Movement organised weeks of protests that brought thousands to the streets to call for more democracy, better economic prospects and an end to corruption.

The proposed reforms fall short of the full constitutional monarchy many protesters were demanding and the movement has urged a boycott of Friday's vote.

In a statement posted on its Facebook page Friday, the movement called on its supporters to stay away from the polls.

"We are calling for a boycott of this referendum because the constitution it proposes consecrates absolutism and will not make corruption disappear," it said.

The reform plan has been hailed abroad, however, with the European Union saying it "signals a clear commitment to democracy".

Voting also took place among the thousands of Moroccans living abroad, with more than 500 polling stations set up in foreign countries.

In Paris, hundreds voted at the Moroccan consulate. "When good changes are under way, the least thing you can do is take the trouble to vote," said Mounir, 26, as he voted in the French capital.

Throughout a brief campaign, the new constitution has been fiercely backed by Morocco's main political parties, unions, civic groups, religious leaders and media. The campaign was dominated by the "yes" side, with few signs of an organised "no" vote movement.

Along with changes granting the prime minister more executive authority, the new constitution would reinforce the independence of the judiciary and enlarge parliament's role.

It would also remove a reference to the king as "sacred", though he would remain "Commander of the Faithful" and "inviolable".

The new constitution would also guarantee more rights to women and make Berber an official language along with Arabic -- the first time a north African country has granted official status to the region's indigenous language.