Tunisian ruling party backs Maghreban integration efforts

The Tunisian ruling party the "Democratic Constitutional Rally" (RCD) expressed Tunisia's backing of the consolidation of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA).

The RCD, which closed Sunday its third convention, said it backs Tunisia's efforts geared towards the consolidation of the Maghreban union, which groups Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania.

The party of President Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali called on UMA member countries to overcome the problems hindering the Maghreban Union progress towards full integration.

Set up in 1989 in Marrakesh (Morocco), UMA, which aims at integration and complementarity among the five North African nations, is currently paralyzed because of Algeria's backing to the Polisario Movement and the embargo imposed on libya for its alleged involvement in the bombing of a U.S. Pan-Am plane over the scottish village of lockerbie in 1988. The crush killed 270 passengers.

The RCD Convention expressed backing to President Ben Ali to run for a third term as President of Tunisia, during next year's elections.