Moroccan writer awarded Spanish prestigious prize

The Spanish Literature Prize "Prince of Asturias" 2003 went to Morocco's writer Fatima Mernissi and US Susan Sontag, the jury announced in Oveido (Northern Spain) Wednesday.

The two writers were prized for their works dealing with key issues of our time in a complementary way, and within intercultural dialogue," the jury said.

Mernissi, 63, is the author of several sociology books including "Political Harem" (1987) and "Morocco through women" (1991).

Susan Sontag, 70, is known for her description of the American society in works like "Under the Sign of Saturn" (1972) and "Illness and its Metaphors" (1988).

The Prince of Asturias Foundation, chaired by Spanish Heir Apparent Felipe de Asturias, awards eight 50,000 Euro prizes every year in the following disciplines: communication and human sciences, scientific and technical research, social sciences, Arts, Literature, International cooperation, concord and sports.