After U.S.
Mediation, Spain & Morocco Close to Deal on Island Dispute
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Spanish military helicopter unloads supplies on Leila island.
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MADRID,
July 20 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Spain and Morocco Saturday
were close to ending a bitter row over a tiny Mediterranean island
after U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell weighed in, according to
U.S. officials.
Powell
engaged in a round of telephone diplomacy with Morocco's King Mohammad
VI, Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio and Moroccan Foreign Minister
Mohamed Benaissa on Friday to bring about a resolution, reported
Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Spain
and Morocco were locked in a heated standoff over the uninhabited
islet of Leila, known as Pereji in Spain, less than 200 meters from
the Moroccan coastline.
"The
Secretary has been working very closely with the Spanish and Moroccan
governments on the issues surrounding the island," State
Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.
"We
remain hopeful that a resolution to these issues can be reached on
.... the basis of returning to the status quo ante," he said.
The
United States stepped in after the dispute stormed onto the
international stage, dragging in NATO and the European Union, which
supported Spain, while the Arab League and the six-nation Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) backed Morocco's calls for Madrid to
withdraw from the islet.
Under
the reported U.S.-brokered deal, Spain and Morocco agree to remove
from the island any "outposts, flags and or symbols of
sovereignty", a pledge that would be tantamount to a return to
the status quo before the dispute.
The
two countries would then follow up with ministerial-level talks to
work out a lasting solution to the territorial dispute over the
island.
In
Washington, U.S. officials said late Friday that they were waiting for
Rabat and Madrid to give final approval to the agreement which they
said was imminent.
"We
are waiting to confirm details that we would hope would lead to a
resolution," one senior State Department official said on
condition of anonymity.
Morocco
accused Spain of in effect making a "declaration of war" by
sending in troops to evict the Moroccan soldiers which Rabat said were
sent to clamp down on illegal immigration and terrorism.
In
addition to Leila, Spain governs Ceuta and Melilla, and claims
sovereignty over other offshore isles, claimed by Morocco.
During
a visit to Paris Friday, the Moroccan Foreign Minister accused Spain
of "occupying" the island but said his country would not go
to war over the dispute.
"Morocco
is a country of dialogue... War for us is excluded," said
Benaissa.
According
to BBC’s online news service, Benaissa said he wanted to get France
involved in the diplomatic negotiations.
He
is also to attend a European Union meeting of Foreign Ministers in
Brussels on Monday at which the crisis will be discussed.
The
European Commission called on Madrid and Rabat to renew talks aimed at
finding a long-term solution to the dispute.
But
in a radio interview, Benaissa said the Spanish troops would have to
leave the island before dialogue could begin.
Despite
a military build-up in the area, Spain had given no prior public
warning that the Moroccan troops might be removed by force.
Now,
several dozen Spanish soldiers stand guard on Leila as Moroccans on
the nearby coastline vent their anger, shouting and throwing
stones.
There
are concerns in Spain that the current dispute could be a prelude to
Moroccan demands for a full Spanish withdrawal. 
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