Freed Moroccan prisoners back home after 23 years of captivity in Tindouf

A group of 100 Moroccan prisoners, released by the Algeria-backed separatist movement "Polisario," were flown home Wednesday after 23 years of captivity in Tindouf, southwestern Algeria.

The freed prisoners who arrived in Agadir (south of Morocco), were accompanied in their flight by a delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and were welcomed at the city's airport by high- ranking Moroccan officials and military officers.

A total of 412 Moroccans are still held captive by the "Polisario" in southwestern Algeria despite repeated calls by the international community and humanitarian organizations, including the UN Secretary General and the UNHCR for the "immediate and unconditional" release of "the world's longest-serving prisoners of war."

The separatist movement is claiming the separation of the Moroccan Sahara, known as Western Sahara. The former Spanish colony was retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accords signed with Spain and Mauritania.

Earlier, Morocco welcomed, in an official communique, the release of the 100 Moroccans and denounced anew "the political use and shameful media exploitation of the tragedy of Moroccan prisoners, in total scorn of their relatives' feelings and of the international community's calls."