Rabat - The Moroccan city of Fes wants to become the first in the North African kingdom to ban alcohol entirely, the mayor said on Friday.

Local residents have been disturbed by the bars and discos frequented by tourists, Mayor Hamid Chabat said, proposing that Fes, a popular tourist destination, become "an alcohol-free city like Mecca or al-Qods (Jerusalem)".

The city council, which is dominated by the conservative nationalist Istiqlal party, already gave its backing to the ban on Thursday.

The authorities had received complaints from residents about rowdy behaviour in bars and discotheques where Moroccans were served alcohol despite laws which prohibit Muslims from drinking.

The law allows Christians and Jews to consume alcohol, but in reality, alcoholic drinks are often available to Muslims as well.

The ban planned by the Fes authorities would affect foreign tourists as well as Moroccans.

The provincial prefect was, however, unlikely to allow the ban to go into effect, observers said.

Fes, one of Morocco's imperial cities, marked 12 centuries of its existence in 2008. The former capital is located at about 200 kilometres east of the current capital Rabat.

Source: SAPA