Morocco denies arrest of Algerian Islamist group

Morocco denied on Thursday having arrested a group of Algerian Islamist activists involved in the massacre perpetrated last August 15 in Southwestern Algeria.

"On behalf of the Moroccan government, I flatly deny the news reported lately by some press organizations on the infiltration of Algerian armed elements in Morocco and their arrest in the Kingdom," said Thursday in Rabat the Moroccan government spokesman at a news conference held after the weekly cabinet meeting.

On Wednesday, French News Agency (AFP) reported that Moroccan security forces have arrested "nine Algerian Islamist activists suspected of involvement in the killing of 29 persons in Southwest Algeria.

"The Moroccan-Algerian borders are well controlled," the Moroccan government spokesman, Khalid Alioua, told reporters affirming that there had been no infiltration.

Terming as baseless the news reports, Alioua stressed that relations between Morocco and neighboring Algeria are based on cooperation, consultations and good neighborliness.

Morocco has always abstained from interfering in Algeria's domestic affairs, Alioua said, alluding to the possibility of reopening land borders between the two countries after the end of the mourning period observed by Morocco following by the demise of King Hassan II last July 23.