Morocco opens surveillance post on mediterranean tiny island
Morocco, Politics, 7/13/2002

Morocco has opened a surveillance post on the Mediterranean tiny island of Leila, in a move described by a top official at the ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation as part of the fight against terrorism and illegal immigration.

A top official at the foreign department confirmed to MAP that Morocco has opened a surveillance post in the island of Leila, which is 13.5 Hectares wide and is located less than 200 meters off the Moroccan Mediterranean coast at 40 KM east of Tangiers. The official further said this is part of the Moroccan authorities' anti-terrorism campaign and control of illegal migration, particularly in the Gibraltar strait.

The source explained that the tiny island is uninhabited and that the only activity conducted there is the breeding of goat by Moroccans living in Jbel Moussa. "The Leila tiny island is located inside Morocco's territorial integrity, in accordance with the Moroccan legislation regulating the delimitation of Moroccan maritime spaces."

The official went on that the island was liberated in 1956 at the end of the Spanish protectorate over Morocco's northern area and since then Moroccan security forces were deployed there, whenever necessary.

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