Morte de dirigente islamista marroquino

RABAT, Dec 13 (Reuters) - The leader of Morocco's main opposition group al-Adl Wal Ihsane died on Thursday, raising questions over the future of an Islamist group that played a central role in Arab Spring protests last year. Abdessalam Yassine formed the group 1981. It is banned from formal politics but is believed by analysts and diplomats to be the only opposition organisation capable of mass mobilisation in the North African state. It was a major player in protests last year that led the monarchy to institute constitutional reforms to dilute some of its extensive powers - an usual step for a group previously more focused on religion than politics and protest. The protests petered out after Al-Adl Wal Ihsane (Justice and Spirituality) withdrew over disputes with secularists. "With a heavy heart Al-Adl Wal Ihsane announces to its members, sympathisers, the Moroccan people and the Islamic nation the death of one of its great men, the great guide Abdessalam Yassine," a statement on its website said. Hassan bin Najeh, spokesman for the group's youth section said Sheikh Yassine, born in 1928, had been suffering from influenza and his health had been frail for some time. His funeral is set to take place in Rabat on Friday and could become a focus for anti-government protest. It was not clear who would succeed Yassine, who served several terms in prison for opposition to the monarchy, and analysts saw conflict over the future direction of the group.