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| Tensions over Spanish king's trip | Tensions over Spanish king's trip |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| King Juan Carlos of Spain is to pay a controversial visit to two Spanish-held enclaves on the tip of North Africa for the first time in his 32-year reign. | King Juan Carlos of Spain is to pay a controversial visit to two Spanish-held enclaves on the tip of North Africa for the first time in his 32-year reign. |
| Morocco considers the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla to be occupied Moroccan territory and recalled its ambassador to Spain in protest at the visit. | Morocco considers the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla to be occupied Moroccan territory and recalled its ambassador to Spain in protest at the visit. |
| Moroccans are planning protest rallies in the two enclaves and outside the Spanish embassy in Rabat, reports say. | Moroccans are planning protest rallies in the two enclaves and outside the Spanish embassy in Rabat, reports say. |
| Spanish officials have been playing down the dispute. | Spanish officials have been playing down the dispute. |
| The Spanish foreign minister, Miguel Moratinos, has said he hopes it will not affect Spain's good relations with Morocco for long. | The Spanish foreign minister, Miguel Moratinos, has said he hopes it will not affect Spain's good relations with Morocco for long. |
| Moroccan authorities have described the visit as "regrettable". | |
| Rival claims | Rival claims |
| Moroccan Ambassador Omar Azziman has been recalled indefinitely over the visit. | Moroccan Ambassador Omar Azziman has been recalled indefinitely over the visit. |
| Ceuta and Melilla, on Morocco's coast, came under Spanish control about 500 years ago but Morocco claims them too. | Ceuta and Melilla, on Morocco's coast, came under Spanish control about 500 years ago but Morocco claims them too. |
| High-level Spanish visits to the two strategic enclaves are rare. This will be the first time the king has visited as head of state. | High-level Spanish visits to the two strategic enclaves are rare. This will be the first time the king has visited as head of state. |
| When Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero went there in 2006 it was the first by a Spanish head of government since 1981. | When Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero went there in 2006 it was the first by a Spanish head of government since 1981. |
| Madrid says the urban enclaves are integral parts of Spain. | Madrid says the urban enclaves are integral parts of Spain. |
| They are surrounded by Morocco, which views the Spanish presence as anachronistic and claims sovereignty. | They are surrounded by Morocco, which views the Spanish presence as anachronistic and claims sovereignty. |