Gabon renews backing to Morocco's territorial integrity

Gabon on Thursday renewed backing to Morocco's territorial integrity and stressed that Morocco should return to its seat at the Organization of African Unity (OAU).

Gabon has always backed Morocco in its endeavors to perfect its territorial integrity and wants Morocco back to the OAU, speaker of the Gabonese national assembly (parliament), Guy Nzouba Ndama, said at a meeting with Moroccan secretary of state for cooperation, Ms. Aicha Belarbi.

Morocco quit the OAU in the early 1980's to protest the admission of the so-called Sahrawi republic (sadr/self-proclaimed by the Polisario), which claims sovereignty over Morocco's southern provinces.

The Sahara issue is now at the hands of the United Nations, which tries to hold a self-determination referendum to determine whether the Sahara --a former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accords-- sets up on its own or remains part of Morocco.

The vote has been delayed by disputes over the voters' lists.