Moroccan political parties welcome US position over Morocco's autonomy initiative

   They told MAP, on Saturday, that the U.S. stance over the Sahara issue is an additional support towards the settlement of this artificial conflict which lasted over three decades.

   During her recent visit to Morocco, Clinton made it clear that the United States' position over Morocco's autonomy initiative for the Sahara, which Washington described on several occasions as "serious" and "credible", remains unchanged.

   In this regard, the Authenticity and Modernity party (PAM) hailed, in a statement, the U.S. position which is in line with the large-scale reforms launched in Morocco during the past ten years.

   Secretary General of the National Democratic Forces Front, Thami Khyari, said the U.S. position voiced by Clinton sends a clear message to the enemies of Morocco's territorial integrity who desperatley wish to see a change in the U.S. position, adding that the international community backs Morocco's initiative to grant broad autonomy to its southern provinces.

   Echoing him, Secretary General of the Progress and Socialism party (PPS), Ismail Alaoui, said that Morocco's autonomy initiative aims to promote democracy in Morocco and to achieve a Maghreb union, stressing that the people of the Maghreb need resources which are being wasted due to the artificial conflict.