Morocco expels Spanish journalist
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 6/3/2005

A Spanish journalist was expelled Thursday from Laayoune after she lied about her occupation to the borders police, police sources disclosed.

Maria Cristina Berasain, who arrived from Las Palmas, first claimed to be a pharmacist on holiday. She soon changed her statements, affirming she is a journalist for Berria website, and that she came to Morocco to cover the incidents that have recently occurred in the southern province of Laayoune.

According to authorities, the journalist had documents that were hostile to Morocco's territorial integrity and phone numbers of pro-Polisario activists in Morocco.

Several foreign journalists, including Spaniards, have recently visited Morocco's southern provinces to cover the events that took place on Tuesday after police of Laayoune intervened to restore order following "provocative actions of a group of individuals."

The Wilaya of Laayoune had said that the individuals wanted penitentiary authorities cancel their decision of transferring an inmate sentenced for drug smuggling and organisation of illegal emigration.

Local authorities had condemned attempts by the Algeria-backed Polisario separatists to give a larger dimension to the events.

The Polisario Front lays claim to Morocco's southern provinces that were retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under Madrid Accords, signed with Spain and Mauritania.

Previous Stories:
  El Pais: Madrid's archbishop denies press reports on PJD   (6/2/2005)
  Islamic party delegation visits Spain   (5/28/2005)
  Morocco hails Spain's efforts to regularize stay of Illegal migrants   (5/14/2005)

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