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Morocco: Protests continue in disputed Spanish enclaves
Rabat, 5 Nov. (AKI) - Angry protesters took to the streets in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta (Photo) in North Africa on Monday to protest against the visit of Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.
The royal couple began their two-day official visit to Ceuta and Melilla on the Moroccan coast on Monday.
It is the first visit by a Spanish monarch to the disputed territories in 80 years. Ceuta and Melilla, autonomous cities administered by Spain, are considered by Morocco to be an integral part of its territory and of immense political and economic significance.
Tensions between the two nations have been strained over the visit with Morocco deciding to recall its ambassador to Spain on Saturday.
On Sunday, about 600 people protested in front of the Spanish consulate in Tetouane, in the north of the country. The protestors carried banners against the visit and asked that the enclaves come under the control of Morocco.
On Monday, the parliament in Rabat will convene a plenary session on the visit. Morocco's prime minister Abbas Al-Fasi is expected to make a strong speech on the issue in the early afternoon.
A group of parliamentarians are also expected to carry out a protest in front of the Spanish embassy in Morocco.
Throughout the years, Spanish leaders have stayed away from the controversial hotspot in North Africa due to its political sensitivity. The last Spanish monarch to visit the North African enclaves was Juan Carlos's grandfather Alfonso XIII in 1927.
Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Zapatero visited in 2006, the first official visit by a Spanish prime minister since 1980. The trip was considered as provocative by Moroccan authorities.
Morocco claims both locations to be "despoiled" territories, calling them by their Arabic equivalents of Sebta and Melillia. The cities have been under Spanish control for over 400 years.
The visit by Juan Carlos and Sofia coincides with the 32nd anniversary of the "Marcha Verde" or Green March.
It was a mass demonstration of over 350,000 unarmed people coordinated by the Moroccan government held to force Spain to give up the disputed area of Sahara to Morocco.
Rabat, 5 Nov. (AKI) - Angry protesters took to the streets in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta (Photo) in North Africa on Monday to protest against the visit of Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.
The royal couple began their two-day official visit to Ceuta and Melilla on the Moroccan coast on Monday.
It is the first visit by a Spanish monarch to the disputed territories in 80 years. Ceuta and Melilla, autonomous cities administered by Spain, are considered by Morocco to be an integral part of its territory and of immense political and economic significance.
Tensions between the two nations have been strained over the visit with Morocco deciding to recall its ambassador to Spain on Saturday.
On Sunday, about 600 people protested in front of the Spanish consulate in Tetouane, in the north of the country. The protestors carried banners against the visit and asked that the enclaves come under the control of Morocco.
On Monday, the parliament in Rabat will convene a plenary session on the visit. Morocco's prime minister Abbas Al-Fasi is expected to make a strong speech on the issue in the early afternoon.
A group of parliamentarians are also expected to carry out a protest in front of the Spanish embassy in Morocco.
Throughout the years, Spanish leaders have stayed away from the controversial hotspot in North Africa due to its political sensitivity. The last Spanish monarch to visit the North African enclaves was Juan Carlos's grandfather Alfonso XIII in 1927.
Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Zapatero visited in 2006, the first official visit by a Spanish prime minister since 1980. The trip was considered as provocative by Moroccan authorities.
Morocco claims both locations to be "despoiled" territories, calling them by their Arabic equivalents of Sebta and Melillia. The cities have been under Spanish control for over 400 years.
The visit by Juan Carlos and Sofia coincides with the 32nd anniversary of the "Marcha Verde" or Green March.
It was a mass demonstration of over 350,000 unarmed people coordinated by the Moroccan government held to force Spain to give up the disputed area of Sahara to Morocco.
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