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Morocco king condemns royal visit | Morocco king condemns royal visit |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Morocco's king has strongly condemned the visit by the Spanish monarch to the disputed Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the north Moroccan coast. | Morocco's king has strongly condemned the visit by the Spanish monarch to the disputed Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the north Moroccan coast. |
King Mohammed VI said it had hurt the feelings of the Moroccan people. | King Mohammed VI said it had hurt the feelings of the Moroccan people. |
In a rare statement to cabinet, he said the unprecedented visit by King Juan Carlos was offensive and jeopardised future relations between the countries. | In a rare statement to cabinet, he said the unprecedented visit by King Juan Carlos was offensive and jeopardised future relations between the countries. |
Morocco has long been demanding control over the two enclaves, which have been Spanish for some 400 years. | |
This is the first time the Spanish king has visited Ceuta and Melilla as head of state in his 32-year reign. | This is the first time the Spanish king has visited Ceuta and Melilla as head of state in his 32-year reign. |
Morocco withdrew its ambassador from Madrid in protest. | Morocco withdrew its ambassador from Madrid in protest. |
Dialogue | Dialogue |
"We emphatically condemn and strongly denounce such an unprecedented visit, a counterproductive step that hurt the deep patriotic feelings of the whole Moroccan people," King Mohammed said in a statement, Reuters news agency reports. | "We emphatically condemn and strongly denounce such an unprecedented visit, a counterproductive step that hurt the deep patriotic feelings of the whole Moroccan people," King Mohammed said in a statement, Reuters news agency reports. |
There have been protests on the Moroccan side of the enclaves | There have been protests on the Moroccan side of the enclaves |
But AP news agency says the monarch also called for dialogue "that guarantees our sovereignty rights and which take Spain's interests into account". | But AP news agency says the monarch also called for dialogue "that guarantees our sovereignty rights and which take Spain's interests into account". |
Correspondents say during the visit, thousands of the enclaves' residents turned out to greet the Spanish royal couple, waving Spanish flags and shouting, "We are Spanish". | Correspondents say during the visit, thousands of the enclaves' residents turned out to greet the Spanish royal couple, waving Spanish flags and shouting, "We are Spanish". |
But there were protests against the tour at the border posts of both Ceuta and Melilla with Morocco. | But there were protests against the tour at the border posts of both Ceuta and Melilla with Morocco. |
High-level Spanish visits to the two strategic enclaves are rare. | High-level Spanish visits to the two strategic enclaves are rare. |
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. |
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