Former Algerian president sought to overcome conflict with Morocco on Sahara
Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 10/29/2004

Former Algerian president, Ahmed Benbella, said Wednesday he always sought to turn the page of the Moroccan-Algerian conflict over the Sahara, regretting to see it continuing.

Algeria is backing the Polisario separatists who claim the separation of Morocco's southern provinces, known as the Sahara. This former Spanish colony was retrieved by the Kingdom in 1975 under the Madrid accords.

Benbella, who was host of Qatari Satellite channel Al Jazeera, said his "position on the issue is known, and that he refuses this situation." He added that he has explained his position to the current president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

The former president stressed that "nothing could separate us from our Moroccan brothers," recalling Moroccans' support to Algeria in its liberation war.

Benbella recalled, in the same drive, that "the Moroccan brothers were all on our side during the revolution, and did impossible things to help us. We will not forget, and no Algerian should ever forget the support and assistance king Mohammed V brought us then."

Previous Stories:
  No negotiation on Moroccan kingty over Sahara, party   (10/26/2004)
  Morocco always respected consensus on its territorial integrity, minister   (10/22/2004)
  Algeria suffers 'unprecedented severe blow' since start of Sahara conflict, daily   (10/22/2004)

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