Morocco Recalls Ambassador To Berlin For Consultation

Rabat on Thursday has recalled its Ambassador to Berlin Zohour Alaoui for consultation amid tensions with Germany regarding Morocco's Western Sahara regional conflict with the pro-independence Polisario Front.

Rabat on Thursday has recalled its Ambassador to Berlin Zohour Alaoui for consultation amid tensions with Germany regarding Morocco's Western Sahara regional conflict with the pro-independence Polisario Front.

"Germany has accumulated hostile stances that violate the high interests of the Kingdom," the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Morocco also accused Germany of excluding Rabat from regional talks on Libya.

The ministry said that Germany has a negative position toward the Moroccan Sahara cause following the US recognition of Morocco's sovereignty in the Sahara region.

The Foreign Ministry also accused Berlin "of relentlessly fighting the regional role played by Morocco" in Libya by trying to exclude Morocco's participation in regional meetings that address the Libyan file.

Western Sahara is an area along Africa's Atlantic coast that has a population of about 600,000 residents, according to UN estimates. It was colonized by Spain in the 19th century and annexed in 1975 by Morocco.

Morocco has offered autonomy for the region but the Polisario Front contends that residents should decide in a vote.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara -