RABAT, Morocco — Moroccan police have used clubs to break up a rare demonstration in front of the nation's parliament, leaving dozens injured.

Hundreds of peaceful demonstrators gathered late Friday to protest a decision earlier in the week by King Mohamed VI to pardon a Spanish man convicted of raping 11 children.

Amid shouts of "Our children are raped. Where is the law?" and "Shame!" the demonstration was brutally broken up by police.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights says 63 people were injured, including three children. Many were bleeding from head wounds.

On July 30, at the request of Spain's King Juan Carlos, the Moroccan monarch pardoned 48 Spaniards who had been imprisoned here.

According to lawyer Hamid Krayri, those pardoned include the convicted child rapist.