Algeria opposes OAU's backing to U.N resolution on Sahara

Algeria, leading a group of countries, imposed conditions and strongly opposed an African backing to the U.N Security Council resolution on the Sahara issue.

Algeria's representative, backed by other delegates especially from southern Africa, refused requests made by Senegal and Gambia and backed by other central and western African nations, a delegate who was present at the session told MAP news agency.

According to the Algerian delegate, Africa interfere with the Sahara issue, as it has reached an important stage. African heads of state should deal with more important issues.

The Algerian delegation was responding to Senegal, which said that the shift from the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to the African Union (AU) was an opportunity to settle this issue that has for long divided Africa.

AU should not inherit such an issue, the Senegalese delegate said.

Several countries backed Morocco's adherence to the AU, while Algeria made reservations, as the Kingdom's adherence would mean the exclusion of Algeria's backed entity the so-called Sahrawi republic.