Morocco expels Swedish diplomat
Morocco
has expelled a Swedish diplomat for passing on official documents to separatist
groups in Western Sahara.
The Foreign Ministry statement said Anna Block-Mazoyer was accused of committing
"a serious breach of diplomatic practice."
It said, ’’Documents given to the diplomat during an official briefing reached
the separatist Polisario Front.’’
Sweden's foreign ministry has confirmed it has been informed of the decision.
Despite the four-round UN-backed talks between Morocco and the Algerian-backed
Polisario Front, there has been no progress so far in resolving the dispute.
Morocco, which controls most of the Western Sahara, has proposed semi-autonomy
for the region but, the Polisario Front is asking for a referendum with full
independence as one of the options.
A ceasefire has held since 1991, but negotiations have stalled many times since
then, with little common ground between the opposing sides.
The territory is rich in phosphate and is believed to have offshore oil
deposits. Most of it has been under Moroccan control since 1976.
BBC/Yinka
