Morocco reaffirms autonomy plan for Western Sahara Morocco's King Mohammed VI said Friday that his government's proposals for autonomy for the Western Sahara had “more international support” than “the despairing manoeuvers” of its adversaries. The Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony that was annexed by Morocco in 1975. The Algerian-backed Polisario Front is demanding independence for the region. “In as much as international support is growing in favor of this courageous initiative, recognized by the UN as serious and credible, so our adversaries persist in their despairing manoeuvers trying in vain to block it,” the king said in a broadcast to the nation. 7 dead in Algeria storms Storms which left a trail of damage across Algeria killed at least seven people, a civil defense official told state radio Thursday. Four bodies were recovered Thursday in the M'sila region, some 250 kilometers (150 miles) south of Algiers, adding to three who died Wednesday in the town of Djelfa, 50 kilometers further south, he said. Several major highways were closed by the storms which broke on Tuesday, and caused widespread flooding after a prolonged dry period. Tunisia removes 10% tax on prices of kerosene According to a statement, Tunisair will also see its annual fuel bill drop by 3%. The move will also normalize fuel prices, placing Tunisia on a par with international criteria applied in charging kerosene for international airlines operating to and from Tunisia. The removal of the tax will also contribute to improve the competitiveness of Tunisian airline companies pending the full opening of the Tunisian skies, announced by President Ben Ali by the end of 2011, the statement says. US Wants Convicted Lockerbie Bomber Back in Prison The Obama administration is calling for the reimprisonment of Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, the Libyan who was convicted in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, but released from jail last year. White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan said Friday that the United States has expressed its “strong conviction” that al-Megrahi serve out the remainder of his sentence in a Scottish prison. Sudan warns against south independence declaration Sudan's ruling National Congress Party said on Thursday its southern partners in government would commit “suicide” if they declared an independent state without a referendum. The southern Sudan People's Liberation Movement threatened to opt for “alternative options” if a January referendum is delayed. A commission tasked with organizing the referendum has not yet started work because of disagreements. BM
