Moroccan News Briefs published in The View From Fez draw on open source material, contributions from readers, as well as material from Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP), Morocco Times and official Moroccan Government press releases.
Morocco is planning to submit a proposal in April to grant autonomy to Western Sahara. An unnamed Moroccan source close to the situation told Reuters, "Morocco will certainly present a paper (in April) in the framework of autonomy, but not independence. The UN has stated that it would welcome any Moroccan proposal in this direction".
The Moroccan government has repeatedly said it had a new plan to unblock the diplomatic impasse over Western Sahara, but it has never set a date for unveiling it. The UN Security Council has regularly adopted resolutions pressing Morocco and the Polisario to resolve their three-decade long impasse.
The chairman of the Association des disparus victimes du Polisario, Dahi Agay, sent a letter on Monday to the Spanish Foreign Ministry asking to ban Polisario torturers Spanish territory.
The letter, a copy of which was sent to the Moroccan News Agency office in Madrid, said alleged torturers such as Brahim Ghali, delegate of the Polisario separatist movement in Madrid, have to be banned from staying in Spain.
Agay said he was "pained by the welcome and support Spain gives to the torturers who victimize the true sons of the Sahara."
The Algeria-backed Polisario has been inflicting untold suffering to Sahrawis living in the camps of Tindouf, south-west Algeria, after the populations were lured into the camps in mid seventies by false propaganda and the movement's claim to separate the Moroccan southern provinces, known as the Sahara, from the motherland.
The southern provinces were retrieved in 1975 by Morocco from the Spanish rule in line with the Madrid accords signed by Spain, Morocco and Mauritania.
The association for the disappeared victims of the Polisario said the presence on the Spanish territory of Polisario criminals is abnormal and an offence that does not honour a democratic country, such as Spain that paid a high price for freedom?".
It denounces alleged Polisario criminals such as Brahim Ghali, Lincolon EL Mahjoub, Ahmeddou Ould Bad, Mohamed Louchaa Oubeid, Omar Boulsan Ould Salek and Mouilid Lahcen and other alleged torturers representing the separatist movement in Spain.
"We ask Spain, in line with resolutions and reports of international
organisations, such as Amnesty International, to ban these torturers from staying on its territory and that they are brought to justice?," the association said.
Three British personalities from the world of business received Moroccan royal decorations in recognition of their efforts in reinforcing friendship and cooperation ties between Morocco and Great Britain.
Josef J. Gaggero, president of the British airliner, GB Airways, and chairman of the British Moroccan Society, was awarded the Alaouite Wissam with the rank of commander, Jim Furlong, president of the Sunways company, and Annie Austin, director of CLM Limited were both awarded the Alaouite Wissam with the rank of officer. The Wissams were handed by the Moroccan ambassador in London, Mohamed Belmahi.
"Under the enlightened leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, Morocco achieves significant progress in all fields, especially in tourism," underlined Gaggero, who said he was honored by the royal decoration.
Annie Austin said that, by its strategic location, its culture and its multiple potentials, Morocco is a very promising market in tourism.
Furlong expressed the conviction that the reforms introduced in Morocco will surely attract more Irish investors.
The 6th ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) opened today in the Sudanese capital Khartoum amid controversy over Sudan's candidacy for the presidency of the Union. During the two-day summit, African leaders will discuss critical issues, especially the Darfur conflict.
The country hosting the Union's summit traditionally becomes the next head of the body. But most analysts expect the long lasting problem in the Darfur area could prevent president Omar el-Beshir (pictured above) from gaining the chairmanship.
Full Story: Morocco Times.
Tags: Morocco, Fes, Maghreb, news
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