Mauritanians demand Moroccan withdrawal

Press, 17 August 1979, Page 6

Mauritanians demand Moroccan withdrawal

NZPA-Reuter Novakchott Hundreds of Mauritanians have demonstrated in the town of Novakchott demanding the immediate withdrawal of Moroccan troops from the country after Mauritania’s peace agreement with Western Sahara guerrillas of the Polisario Front. Mauritania, which divided the Western Sahara with Morocco when Spanish colonial rule ended in 1976, gave up its claim to the southern third of the territory and signed a peace treaty with the Algerian-backed guerrillas on August 5. Morocco quickly annexed

the territory, changing its name from Tiris-el-Gharbia to Oued Addahab and announced that it would have representatives in the next Moroccan Parliament. On Tuesday it said it would withdraw its troops from Mauritania. Informed sources yesterday said none so far had left. Mauritanians who fear that the troops may stay on, point out that Morocco continued to claim the country as part of its territory for nine years after Mauritania gained independence from France in 1960. The demonstration appeared to take place with

tacit Government approval. About 560 policemen stood by as some 800 Mauritanians chanted: ■ “Down with Morocco’s imperialism and expansionism. We want peace. Down with Morocco’s attempt to control us.” Morocco sent troops to Mauritania when the Polisario, fighting for independence for the whole Western Sahara, threatened to carry the war into the heart of the country. Informed sources said that if Moroccan troops stayed in Mauritania, the country could still be a target for Polisario raids despite the peace treaty.