Algeria says Morocco attacked truck convoys in border area

CAIRO (Reuters) – Algeria condemned on Tuesday what it referred to as an assault by Morocco in opposition to a convoy of vehicles within the border space between Mauritania and the disputed territory of Western Sahara, saying it would jeopardize United Nations makes an attempt to ease regional tensions.

The purported assault happened on Sunday morning within the Ain Bentli area, based on Algerian press experiences.

“Algeria strongly condemns the focused assassinations dedicated through the use of subtle weapons of struggle … in opposition to civilians,” an announcement launched by Algeria’s overseas affairs ministry mentioned.

There was no speedy response from Mauritania or Morocco.

Morocco considers sparsely populated Western Sahara part of its territories. The Algeria-backed Polisario Entrance desires to determine its personal state there.

Rabat ignored the same accusation in November, when Algeria mentioned Morocco focused Algerian truckers in an space in japanese Western Sahara, the place the Polisario mentioned in 2020 it was resuming its “armed battle.”

Nonetheless, there is no such thing as a proof of great combating. Morocco mentioned it was hooked up to the UN-brokered ceasefire settlement however would reply to any assault on Western Sahara territories.

Relations between Algeria and Morocco have been unhealthy for many years and the border between them closed since 1994.

Algeria lower ties with Morocco in August final 12 months, accusing its neighbour of working along with Israel to undermine its safety, igniting fires within the Kabylie area and supporting an independence group the Amazigh talking area.

It then closed its airspace to all Moroccan aircrafts and halted a pipeline deal that carries gasoline to Spain through Morocco.

Morocco referred to as the accusations false and absurd.

Rabat says essentially the most it may provide as a political answer to the Western Sahara battle is autonomy inside its sovereignty.

Most lately Spain and Israel gave help to Morocco’s plan, becoming a member of the USA, Germany and different international locations within the Arab World and Africa.

(Reporting by Lamine Chikhi; extra reporting by Ahmed Eljechtimi in Rabat; Enhancing by Grant McCool)