SAHARA PRESS SERVICE

Barcelona, 18/04/2004 (SPS) A Moroccan vice- Consul in Barcelona, completely drunk and maybe dosed up fought on Saturday in the «rambla Catalunya» against policemen called in rescue to the owner of the public bar whom the drunkard threatened and his clients, has reported on Sunday the Catalan
newspaper, La Vanguardia.

The daily paper, confirming the information near some Moroccan diplomatic sources in Barcelona and within the local police, indicated that the quarrel has caused many injures and damages to the policemen and other persons in the bar.
 
The case was presented to justice by the injured, while the Moroccan diplomat  was released after having been identified at the police station of the local police, it was indicated. (SPS)

010/090/666/TRD 181417 Apr 04 SPS

SPS
SADR/MOROC/UN/DEMONSTRATION
An international demonstration in Geneva for the respect of Human Rights in Western Sahara

Geneva, 18/04/2004 (SPS) An international demonstration calling for the respect of human rights and international legality in Western Sahara, was organised by the friends of Saharawi people from Spain, Italy, France and Belgium, on Friday at the UN's Place in Geneva, indicated a correspondent of SPS.

The demonstrators, estimated by the organisers as more than 300 persons, marched carrying panels on which it was written « the wall of shame » divides the Saharawi territory and separates thousands of families since 30 years.

Notices claiming for « the respect of human rights » and denouncing « the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara » were also hoisted by the demonstrators who were dressed in Saharawi traditional clothes (Melhfa and Darraa).

They had also punctuated hostile slogans against the Moroccan colonisation of the Saharawi territory, not only denouncing the «policy of repression erected as a system of the State» by the Moroccan State, but also the «deplorable situation of human rights activists in Western Sahara».

At the end of this demonstration, the mayor of the Toscana region and two other counsellors handed over a petition to the Italian Ambassador in Switzerland and to the President of the Commission for Human Rights, Mike Smith, in which they demand from the international community, UN and the Security Council to «impose the respect and implementation of the Baker's Plan for the self «determination of the Saharawi people». (SPS)

010/090/531/TRD 180945 Apr 04 SPS