Moroccan political leader hopes new Algerian president will prove Algeria non-involvement in Sahara issue

Leader of the Moroccan nationalist Istiqlal Party, Abbas El Fassi hoped that the new Algerian president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, will "produce evidence that his country is not involved in the issue of Morocco's territorial integrity."

The party's leader was referring to Moroccans sequestered by the Algerian-backed Polisario movement which is claiming the independence of the Moroccan Sahara.

El Fassi said by taking the initiative to end the blockade affecting the sequestered Moroccans sequestered, the new Algerian president "who was among those who fought colonialism in north Africa" will "give a new impetus to the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA, comprising Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia) and therefore serve the interest of peoples of the two countries and consolidate cooperation.

He also hoped that Bouteflika "would succeed in restoring stability in Algeria in the respect of democracy that is the best means to achieve economic and social progress."