THOUGH he was once one of the more notorious playboys of the Arab world, Morocco's King Hassan II quickly proved himself a sober ruler when he acceded to the throne more than ten years ago. But the slim, dark-eyed monarch still enjoys a good bash, and he decided to celebrate in style when he turned 42 last week. Accordingly, he invited 500 guests, including Cabinet Ministers, generals and the diplomatic corps, to join him at Skhirat, one of his ten palaces, which is situated at a seaside spa ten miles outside Rabat.
What Hassan did not know was that rebellious junior officers in his 50,000-man army were planning to crash the party and topple his pro-Western regime. His guests were hardly seated for lunch beside Skhirat's swimming pool when some 30 truckloads of mutineers rolled up to the palace and began raking it with machine guns, grenades and mortars.
Hassan was pulled to safety by aides. But the guests, many of whom thought that the shooting was part of the king's birthday fireworks, became ducks in a palatial gallery when loyal troops started firing back. Belgian Ambassador Marcel Dupret fell dead with a bullet in his chest. General Mohammed Nmichi, commander of Morocco's air force, was killed, as were three army generals and two Cabinet Ministers. At least 100 people were wounded including Saudi Arabian Ambassador Fakhri el Adhr and the King's brother, Prince Moulay Abdullah. Hundreds who had expected a pleasant summer outing were terrified and scattered for cover.
A Right Royal Damn. Rebels appeared throughout Morocco. Even while hundreds of army cadets attacked at Skhirat, other anti-Hassan forces seized radio stations in Rabat, the capital, and Casablanca, announced that the King had been overthrown, and proclaimed a "revolutionary republic." Shouting slogans like "Socialism has arrived—down with the monarchy!" rebel broadcasters brought thousands of dissident Moroccans into the streets. Many gleefully tore down birthday posters bearing Hassan's portrait. But their demonstration proved short-lived as baton-wielding police beat them back.
Pro-Hassan forces, under Interior Minister General Mohammed Oufkir, quickly rallied. A gaunt, laconic Berber from the Atlas Mountains, Oufkir has been unswervingly loyal to Hassan. Four years ago, after the Moroccan leftist Mehdi Ben Barka disappeared in France, the De Gaulle government tried and convicted Oufkir in absentia for murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Last week Hassan gave his Interior Minister wide authority to put down the disturbances. Oufkir used that power as ruthlessly as he did six years ago, when troops were called out to put down student demonstrations in Casablanca, the first serious anti-Hassan riot.