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10/11/2005:

"Morocco Defends Use of Force on Africans"

RABAT, Morocco - Morocco on Monday defended its use of force in preventing Africans from crossing into two Spanish enclaves on its northern coast as it started deporting some of those caught storming border fences in recent weeks.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Communications Minister Nabil Benabdallah also accused neighboring Algeria, with which Morocco has tense relations, of leaving its borders "completely open" and allowing immigrants through "without any surveillance."

Morocco has been criticized for its handling of attempts by thousands of Africans to rush razor-wire fences protecting the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. At least a dozen migrants have been killed.

Benabdallah said Morocco is in a no-win situation. Previously it was criticized for not doing enough to stem African immigration. "Then, when we used other means, including force, we created some humanitarian problems. It is not possible to fight this problem without causing humanitarian problems," he said.
news.yahoo.com

Morocco is in a no-win situation because it is doing Spain's dirty work.