Saudi Arabia tries to help settle Moroccan-Algerian problems

Prince Abdellah bin Abdel Aziz, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and vice-president of the ministers' council and chief of the National Guard will attempt to create a propitious climate to settle the pending problems between Morocco and Algeria, a Saudi official source told Asharq Al-Awsat daily.

Crown prince Abdallah is expected this Monday in Algeria, part of a Maghreban tour that already took him to Morocco and that also includes Tunisia.

The same source said Saudi Arabia hopes it can contribute to overcome the obstacles and clear out the recent misunderstanding between the two Maghreban states.

Saudi Arabia had highly appreciated the detente in Moroccan-Algerian relations, following the exchange of messages between the late King Hassan II --who passed away last July 23-- and president Bouteflika, the Saudi source said. He added that the presence of the Algerian head of state at the funeral of the late sovereign and the treatment reserved to him in Morocco.

The Saudi source expressed hope that this spirit will be restored at all levels between the two states and added that Saudi Arabia will insist on the importance of direct contacts between Moroccan and Algerian officials.

While he was in Morocco, the Saudi crown prince met with King Mohammed VI.

Talks in Algeria will focus, as officially announced in Algiers, on the situation in the Arab and Islamic world as well as on international topical issues of mutual concern.