Moroccan expats stage demo in Spain to denounce 'manoeuvres' against Moroccan sahara
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 6/13/2005

Moroccan expatriates in several Spanish cities took to the streets Sunday to voice support to Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara and to denounce "manoeuvres" aimed at misleading the Spanish and international public opinion with regard to the situation in the Southern provinces.

In Barcelona, Algeciras and Valencia, demonstrators chanted slogans in favor of the 'Moroccanity' of the Sahara that has been since 1976 subject to a dispute between Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front which claims the separation of the former Spanish colony from the rest of the North African country. The Sahara was retrieved by Rabat in 1975 under the Madrid Accords.

The "Sahara is Moroccan," "Basta Bouteflika," "Yes to Unity, No to Separatism," read the slogans.

Demonstrators denounced the "unacceptable interference of Algeria and some Spanish activists" in Morocco's internal affairs, and condemned the incidents that occurred on May 30 when some Pro-Polisario activists burned the Moroccan flag outside the Moroccan Consulate in Valencia.

In a release read out at the end of the demo, organizers condemned the "expansionist aims of Algeria that uses a handful of mercenaries so as to occupy a part of the Moroccan territory."

Participants called the Spanish and international public opinions not to be misled by the "misinformation campaigns led by anti-Moroccans," underlining that Morocco is in favor of a political solution to the conflict.

"The Moroccan people is open to a political solution that preserves its sovereignty and territorial integrity and that allows the (Sahrawi) population to directly and democratically manage its local affairs," said the release.

A similar demo was staged Saturday in Paris to denounce Algeria's "hostile" position towards Morocco's territorial integrity, and to call for the immediate release of all Moroccans sequestered in the Algerian territory.

Previous Stories:
  Catalan deputies sent home by Morocco tried to 'act like stars', Catalan MP   (6/11/2005)
  Moroccan associations in Spain denounce peaceful demonstration banning   (6/11/2005)
  Pro-separatists Catalan MPs seek to mar Morocco-Spanish relations, Minister   (6/9/2005)

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