Algerian president receives Moroccan speaker

Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, received here on Monday speaker of the Moroccan house of representative (lower house of parliament), Abdelouahed Radi.

The one-hour talks dealt with situation in Algeria and the priorities of the Moroccan policy, Radi told the press after the meeting.

Bilateral relations and Bouteflika's meeting with Moroccan Premier, Abderrahmane Youssoufi in Bangkok on the fringes of the UNCTAD 10th session were also raised.

Relations between Morocco and Algeria are currently strained due to Bouteflika's accusations that Morocco serves as a rear base for Islamist terrorists. Morocco repeatedly denied the accusations and termed as provocative.

Morocco and Algeria have been at logger heads over the Sahara Issue, Algiers publicly backing the Polisario front, which claims sovereignty over Morocco's southern provinces.

The Moroccan speaker is attending in Algiers the 9th congress of the Arab Parliamentary Union.