Moroccan premier congratulates newly-appointed Algerian peer

Moroccan Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi sent his new Algerian peer, Ahmed Benbitour, a letter congratulating him for his appointment as head of the Algerian government.

The Moroccan premier renewed Morocco's attachment to the path drawn by the late King Hassan II and confirmed by his successor, King Mohammed VI, with the aim of normalizing and consolidating relations between the two countries and re-activating the Arab Maghreb Union.

The message also carries Youssoufi's condolences following the earthquake that hit Algeria and expressed Morocco's solidarity with Algerians.

After a slight improvement following the election of Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, relations between Morocco and Algeria soured again after Algeria accused Morocco of serving as a rear base for its armed Islamic extremists.

Land borders are also closed after an investigation into the killing of two Spanish tourists in Marrakesh found evidence that a group of Algerian-born French nationals were the killers.