Rabat responds to criticism from Algerian president

The Moroccan government has expressed its astonishment and wonder at the criticism made by the Algerian President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika against Morocco during which he accused it of sheltering Islamists gunmen. Morocco also reiterated its desire to establish natural relations between the two states.

The official spokesman for the Moroccan government Khalid Alioua said following a meeting for the Moroccan Cabinet on Thursday that Morocco's government and people received with great wonder what had been stated by his excellency the Algerian President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika. In the name of the Moroccan government I would like to extend the stand of Morocco and Morocco's assertion that Morocco did not know about the leakage of Algerian gunmen who took part in the operations carried out in the area close to the borders with Morocco. This did not happen and will not happen in future."

Alioua added that Morocco "will continue its efforts to improve relations with Algeria. There is no other option for us but to deepen cooperation with the sisterly Algeria. And we were the first who called for normalizing relations and cancelling the visa as well as opening the borders."