Spain calls back its ambassador to Morocco over Leila islet crisis
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 7/17/2002

The Spanish government has recalled its ambassador in Morocco for consultations, announced on Tuesday night the Spanish foreign department.

Strained relations between Morocco and Spain have reached a peak following Madrid's reaction to Morocco's decision to set a surveillance post on the Mediterranean islet of Leila, an uninhabited rock, located less than 200 meters off the Moroccan Mediterranean coast, some 40 KM east of Tangiers.

Morocco says the setting of a surveillance post on its land is a mere policing measure, part of the fight against illegal migration, drug trafficking and terrorism, particularly in the strait of Gibraltar.

On Monday, Moroccan officials called for dialogue over the issue and said the kingdom does not have any intention to embark on an escalation of whatever nature, let alone a military one.

Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, told reporters on Monday the islet has never been anything else other than Moroccan and since independence, only Moroccans were present on the territory. He recalled that the status of the rock is different from the status of Sebta and Melilia, two Moroccan northern towns still occupied by Spain.

Previous Stories:
  Official statement on Morrocan Leila islet   (7/16/2002)
  Leila islet case: Morocco convinced dialogue is best path   (7/16/2002)
  El Pais: Morocco wants to use Leila Island to fight terrorism   (7/15/2002)

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