Algerian intelligence decides to supervise security in Tindouf camps

Algerian intelligence services have decided to manage directly the security situation in the Polisario-controlled Tindouf camps (southern Algeria) following the uprisings that have recently sparked off in the camps, reliable sources told MAP.

Algeria provides military, logistic and diplomatic assistance to the Polisario Front that claims the separation of Morocco's southern provinces, known as the Sahara.

After the return of former top Polisario official, Hammati Rabbani, to Morocco on Thursday, Algerian security services decided to make radical changes, particularly among officials at intelligence services that supervise Polisario secret services, said the same source.

A new official was tasked with supervising Polisario secret services and coordinating its action inside the camps.

These changes, that touched services in charge of security control in Tindouf camps, came with new instructions aiming to spark off demonstrations and protests in the Moroccan territory, particularly in the southern cities of Guelmim, Assa and Smara, in order to distract attention from the uprisings against Polisario leaders, said the same source.

In an attempt to appease the anger of the populations sequestered in the camps, head of the separatists Mohamed Abdelaziz announced Friday he would take measures that would affect some Polisario officials.

Hammati Rabbani will hold Monday a press conference in Rabat to evoke the situation in the camps and the latest developments in the Sahara isuue.