Algeria has no evidence of Morocco's involvement in arms smuggling
Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 8/28/1998

A spokesman for the Algerian government, Hamrawi Habib Chawki, said Algeria cannot accuse its neighbors, mainly Morocco, of being a transit for Algeria-bound weapons in the absence of evidence.

An Algerian daily quoted Thursday the spokesman as saying "when we have evidence, we will say it openly."

The Algerian spokesman was answering a question on press reports on Morocco's role as a retreat for an Algerian armed group which killed recently 6 border guards in western Algeria.

Relations between the two countries are strained in view of Algeria's backing to the guerilla movement "polisario" which is claiming the independence of Morocco's southern provinces. Following evidence of the involvement of Algerian-born French nationals in a terrorist attack against a hotel in Marrakesh in which two Spanish tourists were killed, Morocco decided to impose entry visa for Algerians wishing to visit Morocco. Algeria closed all land borders with Morocco.

Consequently, the construction process of the Arab Maghreb Union "UMA," in which both countries are members, was frozen.

---Algerian dailies said that six Algerian border guards were killed on Sunday night in an ambush implanted by the Armed Islamic Group near the borders with Morocco, expected to have leaked from the Moroccan territories.

The paper also said that the armed group working under the leadership of the renowned "al-Jazzar" from the city of al-Beid is thought to be responsible for attack, and the group to is thought to have withdrawn into Moroccan territory. Several months earlier, the Algerian papers said that al-Jazzar's group, which comprises five persons, fled to Morocco after carrying out an attack in Ein al-Safra.

At that time, the Moroccan authorities denied these news. A source close to the Moroccan government said on Tuesday that news pertaining to the penetration of Algerian terrorist members from Morocco to Algeria are "groundless." The sources added these accusations are but an attempt to escape the Moroccan proposals in restoring normal relations between the two states.

Recently, the Moroccan Prime Minister Abdul Rahman Youssoufi has geared up his initiative towards Algeria for reopening the borders and improving relations.

Previous Stories:
  Algerian gunmen killed   (8/28/1998)
  Returning accusation, Moroccan diplomat says Polisario violates freedom of movement   (8/25/1998)
  Algeria still clings to global approach to heal relations with Morocco   (8/25/1998)

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