RABAT, Sept 30, 2008 (AFP) - King Mohammed VI of Morocco pardoned 77 prisoners Tuesday to mark Eid al-Fitr, the feast held at the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the country's justice ministry said.

In total, 708 convicts received full or partial pardons -- the remainder seeing jail terms shortened, fines reduced or the removal of other restrictions.

The king regularly issues pardons around important religious dates, but there was no information as to what categories of criminal benefitted on this occasion.