Bouteflika's election heralds major progress in Moroccan - Algerian ties

The election of Abdelaziz Bouteflika as Algeria's President heralds major progress in relations between Algeria and Morocco, a London-based Arabic daily reported.

"President Bouteflika is a man of dialogue who will place Algeria's interests above any consideration," al-Hayat daily said, quoting a Moroccan official who spoke under the condition of anonymity.

According to the paper, part of Algerian interests consists in having sound relations with Morocco marked by neighborliness.

Last week, Moroccan Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi renewed a Moroccan call on Algeria to open the closed borders.

"I seize the opportunity of being here among you in this Moroccan and Maghreban oasis to renew the call of brotherhood to re-open borders" between Morocco and Algeria, Youssoufi said at a meeting in the desert town of Figuig, on the border with Algeria.

Relations between Morocco and Algeria are strained due to Algeria's direct involvement in the Sahara issue. Following a terrorist attack perpetrated in 1994 by Algerian-born French nationals against a luxury hotel in Marrakesh (central Morocco), Morocco imposed entry visas on Algerians. Algiers retaliated by closing the land borders.