Morocco's King Mohammed VI has appointed Former Foreign Minister Saadeddine Othmani as new PM. (AFP photo)

RABAT, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's King Mohammed VI has appointed Former Foreign Minister Saadeddine Othmani as the new prime minister with the task to form a new government, according to a statement on Friday.

Othmani, number two in the leadership of the ruling Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD), was received by the king at the Royal Palace in Casablanca, a statement by the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery announced.

Othmani, who was Morocco's foreign minister between 2012 and 2013, replaces PJD leader and former PM Abdelilah Benkirane after he failed to form a government in five months.

Benkirane has gained support of two parties few weeks after the October elections last year, yet he has been unable to make a deal with a third party to secure the majority of 395-seat parliament.

Morocco's King Mohammed VI decided late on Wednesday to appoint another PM from PJD to form a new government in the shortest terms.

While Morocco's constitution says nothing on the question of a prime minister-designate being unable to form a majority, it notes that the king appoints PM from within the political party that wins the most votes in the elections of the Chamber of Representatives.

Following the king's decision, PJD leadership held on Thursday a meeting saying it would deal "positively" with Benkirane's replacement. The party's leadership called for a meeting of its national assembly, the parliament, to decide on the matter on Saturday.