Spain: Thousands rally over Western Sahara violence Thousands gathered in Spain's capital Saturday to protest violence in Western Sahara, a long-disputed region of northwestern Africa, CNN's Spanish affiliate reported. Deadly clashes erupted earlier this week between Moroccan forces and local rebels in the contested region. The violence coincided with a round of talks — informally backed by the United Nations — between Morocco and representatives of Polisario Front, the region's independence movement. Russia's Gazprom discovers oil and gas in Algeria Russian energy giant Gazprom (GAZP.MM: Quote) said on Saturday it has discovered hydrocarbon reserves in Algeria together with Algeria's state-owned Sonatrach. It said it discovered the reserves after a successful drilling an exploration well in El Assel license area in the oil- and gas-bearing Berkine Basin, its first such discovery in North Africa. Tunisia takes part in Euro-Mediterranean Trade Ministers' Conference Tunisia took part in the 9th Conference of the Euro-Mediterranean Trade Ministers held on November 11, in Brussels. The conference helped discuss priorities of Euro- Mediterranean action for 2011, development of bilateral and multilateral negotiations in the region and means to be provided to increase trade exchanges and stimulate investment in the Euro-Mediterranean space. The meeting was also an opportunity to look at measures to facilitate marketing of Palestinian products on the Euro- Mediterranean markets. BP to begin drilling for oil in Libyan desert Troubled oil giant BP is expected to start drilling for oil in Ghadames basin in the Sahara desert next month, a milestone in its controversial deal with Libya. Allegations that convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi was released last year in order to smooth the passage of big British deals with Libya have been widespread in the US. BP will invest more than $1bn (£620m) over seven years in two projects, the other being offshore. Drilling in the seabed was due to start earlier this year, but was delayed shortly after the Gulf of Mexico leak disaster that so damaged the company's reputation. Khartoum accuses south Sudan of aiding Darfur rebel group The Sudanese army on Saturday accused the armed forces of southern Sudan of aiding Darfuri rebels, a day after clashes in a region between the country's north and south close to Darfur. On Friday, the Sudanese army clashed with fighters of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) near Al-Meirem, a sector bordering the south's North Bahr al-Ghazal and the north's South Kordofan, an army spokesman said. South Kordofan is a state of central Sudan strategically located between the south of the country and Darfur. BM
