RABAT — Baton-wielding riot police used water cannons to disperse teachers protesting in the Moroccan capital on Saturday night to demand better conditions.

Several thousand young teachers calling for permanent work contracts had marched peacefully through the streets of central Rabat chanting slogans such as “freedom, dignity, social justice”.

Authorities were trying to end a rally of an estimated 15,000 teachers in front of parliament where they planned to spend the night ahead of an even bigger demonstration called by a coalition of leftist opposition parties, unions and civil society groups.

Policemen in anti-riot gear moved into action after negotiations between officers and teachers to ask protesters to leave the area broke down after several hours. Authorities had offered to send buses to drive them to places where they could spend the night, teachers said. They had been chanting “Liberty, dignity, social justice.”

There was no immediate comment from the police or the government.

As night fell, demonstrators held aloft candles and used their mobile phones as torches, before setting up a makeshift camp in front of parliament.

Police moved in to break up the gathering after the protestors refused to leave following more than two hours of negotiations, according to an AFP journalist.

The teachers on temporary contracts, who have been on strike since March 3, enjoy the same salaries as their permanent colleagues — 5,000 dirhams ($520) a month. But they complain they do not enjoy the same rights, especially over retirement.

Some teachers said they were protesting against contracts on which they have been hired. They are demanding full benefits and pensions like regular public servants.

Teachers across the country have been striking for three weeks in a row.

Of the country’s 240,000-strong teacher workforce, 55,000 have been hired since 2016 under a new contract system.

Morocco has come under pressure from international lenders to trim the civil service wage bill and strengthen the efficiency of the public sector.— Agencies