Release of Moroccan POWs in tindouf is top humanist objective, Euro-deputy

The release of all Moroccan prisoners of war (POW) who are still detained in Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria) is a top priority humanist objective, European deputy, Anne Andre Leonard, told Thursday a press conference held at the European parliament here.

Nearly a thousand Moroccans are being held captives in the Algerian territory by the separatist group "Polisario" for over 20 years. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) calls them the world's longest-serving POW. The Algeria-backed "Polisario" is claiming the independence of former Spanish-occupied southern Moroccan provinces that were retrieved by Morocco in 1975 after an agreement with Mauritania and Spain.

"Measures are being taken to end the inhuman situation" in which Moroccan POWs live, said Leonard who was speaking in the presence of Mimoun Zeggai, a former prisoner who was held in Tindouf for 27 years and was finally released in September along with 240 other prisoners.

For his part, the Moroccan former prisoner recounted the sufferings he endured for 27 years in Tindouf camps, pleading for the release of the remaining 914 prisoners most of whom "are suffering physically and psychologically." Zeggai met Thursday former Euro-deputy and minister-president of Brussels region, Daniel Ducarne, who greatly contributed to his release, as reported by the Belgian press agency "Belga." Other Euro-deputies assured that efforts will continue until all Moroccan prisoners are released, calling on the European Union to pressure Algeria to achieve this aim.