RABAT, May 29 (Reuters) - Moroccan authorities have arrested a leading activist who had been organising protests against official abuses and corruption in the north of the country, a government source said on Monday.

Nasser Zefzafi was arrested on Monday after a warrant was issued on Friday afternoon when he protested during a prayer sermon, the source said. Clashes erupted on Friday when authorities tried to arrest him at his home in Al-Hoceima.

Political protests are rare in Morocco, but tensions in Al-Hoceima have been simmering since October after the death of a fishmonger who was crushed inside a garbage truck while trying to salvage his fish confiscated by the police.

(Reporting by Samia Errazzouki; writing by Patrick Markey) ((pat.markey@thomsonreuters.com; +213-661-692993; Reuters Messaging: pat.markey.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))