Morocco calls African organization to conform to international legality

Morocco called the Organization of African Unity to conform to international legality by withdrawing membership to the phantom Sahrawi republic (self-proclaimed), said here Thursday spokesman of the government, Khalid Alioua.

In a press briefing following the weekly cabinet meeting, the spokesman said the present situation at the OAU is abnormal as inhabitants of one of its member states have not yet expressed their choice whether they want to establish a state or live within the homeland (Morocco).

The United Nations is planning to hold in July 2000 a referendum that would decide whether the Sahara, a former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords, would remain Moroccan territory or set up their state, as claimed by the Algerian-backed Polisario which proclaimed the Sahrawi republic.

Alioua said he is surprised that this abnormal situation still persists at a time the world body is working to hold a referendum.

He also renewed Morocco's adherence to the UN settlement plan.

The pan-African Organization is expected to hold next week an extraordinary summit in Libya.

The puppet republic admission within the African organization in 1984 prompted founder Morocco to quit the pan-African body.

Debates on whether it is legal to grant membership to an entity whose status is yet to be determined are expected to resume during the next OAU extraordinary summit

Several African countries, including Burkina Faso, Benin, Congo, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chad, and Seychelles withdrew their recognition of the mirage SADR.