Assahra Al Maghribia: Algerian stances thwart rapprochement with Morocco

Observers of the latest developments of the Sahara issue "are astounded" by the recent Algerian stances "which are clearly opposite to the objectives of normalisation and rapprochement between the peoples" of Morocco and Algeria and to the energizing of the Arab Maghreb Union, said Ahmed Osman, President of the National Rally of Independents (RNI).

Osman told "Assahra Al Maghribia" daily on Monday "the issue of territorial integrity is an issue of the King and the people," stressing the Algerian leaders' support to the mercenaries "is a unilateral act that goes contrary to the Algerian people will."

Algerian leaders have been expressing lately staunch support to the separatist movement, "Polisario" that claims the separation of Morocco's southern provinces (Sahara) from the rest of the kingdom. This caused a tension escalation that resulted in the postponement of the summit, initially scheduled for May 25-26 in Tripoli, of the Maghreb Arab Union (UMA) countries: Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.

The RNI president said Algeria is playing double-standard by adopting stances that are either hostile to the Moroccan territorial integrity or in favour of the building of the Araba Maghreb Union.

Talking of the visit Algeria's Prime Minister, Ahmed Ouyahia was to pay to Morocco (June 21-22), and which was described as "untimely" by the Moroccan Foreign ministry because of the current state of Moroccan-Algerian relations, Osman noted the Moroccan response was appropriate in regard to inappropriate acts.