Government apologizes for banning Assahifa weekly
Morocco, Politics, 4/29/2000

Spokesman of the Moroccan government, Khalid Alioua, conceded that the government's ban on "Assahifa" weekly edition of April 17 was an error and expressed the government's apology for this measure which he called "a reproach and not a sanction."

In an interview with the same weekly, Alioua said the government's decision to ban entry to Morocco of Assahifa and Le Journal, two weeklies owned by the same company and published abroad, was a reminder to all Moroccans that the topic (of the Sahara) is very sensitive and came as Morocco is seeking massive diplomatic and media support to its campaign to counter the enemies of its territorial integrity.

For Morocco, he went on, dialogue with its enemies should be based on their renunciation of their hostile stance, which is not the case presently.

The government apologized for banning "Assahifa" and not "Le Journal" which ran an interview with the leader of the separatist Polisario gang.

Previous Stories:
  Press freedom is sacred but interview with separatist leader not justified, press union says   (4/21/2000)
  Moroccan human rights organization asks for legal guarantees to press freedom   (4/20/2000)
  Morocco bans two weeklies over interview with separatist leader   (4/17/2000)

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