RABAT, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Morocco's parliamentary elections were orderly and professional but marked by isolated irregularities, foreign election observers said on Saturday.

"Generally speaking the vote took place in an orderly fashion, even if members of the delegation were witness to or were informed of isolated irregularities on election day," said a statement by a multinational team deployed by the U.S.-based National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.

Friday's vote was characterised by "strict transparency and professionalism" but the low turnout showed the need for further work to entrench representative democracy, it said in a provisional statement. The polls were Morocco's first ever elections monitored by foreign observers.

Provisional results showed Istiqlal (Independence) won 52 seats, ahead of the Islamist Justice and Development party (PJD) with 47 seats, Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa said.