16 MAY 2003
The newborn Crown Prince of Morocco, Moulay Al Hassan, remains the centre of his country's attention after he was feted in a traditional Moroccan ceremony in Rabat.

Proud father King Mohammed marked the birth of his son, just days ago, by staging huge celebrations all over the country. Twenty-one-gun salutes also sounded from the palace in Rabat after Her Royal Highness Lalla Salma gave birth to little Moulay.

The baby will one day become the 18th head of the Alaouite dynasty, which has ruled over Morocco since the 17th century.

And his father's reputation as a moderniser has been boosted by pictures showing him as a doting father. The 39-year-old monarch broke with tradition by releasing informal pictures of himself and his new son just after the birth. The latest shots depicting the young family together are further evidence of King Mohammed's contemporary approach.