20100830
africanews

Moroccan police have arrested 11 Spanish activists in Aaiun at the Western Sahara who were wielding flags for independence for the disputed territory, the Spanish Foreign Ministry has said.

The 11 activists were the only demonstrators when they were arrested in Aaiun.

Narrating their ordeal to Spanish national radio, one of the activists from Saharacciones, Alexis Dorta said they suffered physical abuse at the hands of Moroccan authorities and published pictures of bruised skin and black eyes on a website in favour of an independent Western Sahara.

"We are at the Casa de Espana not of our own free will, but because our safety feels less at risk here".

The arrests come days after Spain required to ease tension with the North African country Morocco, saying periodic obstruction by anti-Spanish demonstrators at the gates of its Melilla farm on the coast had dole out to strengthen police cooperation between the two countries.

Western Sahara, a disputed territory slightly bigger than Britain rich in phosphates and potentially offshore oil, is the scene of Africa's longest-running territorial dispute.
Morocco take over Western Sahara as the Spanish left in 1975, is now offering it autonomy however the Polisario Front, which fought a guerrilla war until 1991, demands a referendum with independence as an option.

Spain's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that government representatives would accompany the activists back to Spain after the detainees were later released.