Spain Removes Moroccan Soldiers off Disputed Island

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, July 18, 2002

Spain Removes Moroccan Soldiers off Disputed Island

Spanish forces have pushed the Moroccan soldiers off the disputed Mediterranean islet of Perejil by force, causing no casualties, according to the Spanish news agency EFE Wednesday.

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Spanish forces have pushed the Moroccan soldiers off the disputed Mediterranean islet of Perejil by force, causing no casualties, according to the Spanish news agency EFE Wednesday.

Spanish officials were quoted as saying that it had informed its allies of the operation to remove the Moroccans and there wereno injuries to either side.

The crisis occurred about a week ago when a dozen Moroccan troops set up an observation post on Perejil, an islet Moroccans call Leila, just 140 meters off Moroccan land territory.

Rabat said the move was part of a campaign to crack down terrorism and restrain illegal immigrants leaving for Europe, an issue that has already caused tension with Madrid. Moroccan officials saying the government is seeking a solution to the dispute over the islet in a peaceful way.

Spain, backed by the European Union, had demanded that Morocco immediately withdraw the soldiers, maintaining their presence violated Spanish sovereignty over the island.

Madrid on Wednesday recalled its ambassador to Morocco for consultations.

Both Spain and Morocco claimed sovereignty over the islet, which is only as large as a sports field, since the Spanish protectorate over Morocco ended in 1956.

Morocco demands UN to urge Spain withdraw

Morocco has protested to the United Nations Security Council over Spanish "aggression" of the islet of Leila (known to Spain as Perejil), the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation announced Wednesday.

Morocco "demands an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the Spanish forces from the islet of Leila, an integrate part of the Moroccan territory," said the ministry in a statement.

Morocco has also protested to the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), said the statement issued by the country's official news agency MAP.

In addition, Morocco has contacted "in bilateral terms" with "several brother and friend nations that follow the evolution of the situation," said the statement.

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