Algeria denies receiving Moroccan letter through Arafat

Algeria denied on Monday news that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat has conveyed a letter to president Liamine Zeroual from Moroccan premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi.

Spokesman of the Algerian foreign department, Abdelaziz Sebaa, said in his weekly press briefing, the news reported by Algerian daily "Le Jeune Independant" is "groundless."

He added that Morocco and Algeria "have diplomatic relations and have all diplomatic channels opened between them."

Since he took office last March, the Moroccan prime minister has repeatedly called on Algeria to reopen the borders closed down in 1994 following a terrorist attack against a luxury hotel in the Moroccan central city of Marrakesh. Two Spanish tourists were killed in the attack, perpetrated by a group of Algerian-born French nationals.

Relations between the two Maghreban countries were already strained due to Algeria's direct involvement in the Sahara issue.

Subsequently, Morocco imposed entry visas for Algerians wishing to visit the Kingdom, while Algeria retaliated by closing land borders with Morocco.

In response to the Moroccan government initiatives, the Algerians said bilateral relations must be addressed in a comprehensive manner.