Spain has reinforced defenses of a disputed island after
Morocco rejected a plan for a conditional withdrawal.
Spain's military ferried troops, equipment and weapons to Perejil in
what Western diplomatic sources said appear to constitute preparations for a
long-term stay. The Spanish troops built walls and dug trenches to defend
the tiny Mediterranean island, located 200 meters from the Moroccan coast.
Spanish Defense Minister Federico Trillo said 75 troops were stationed
on the island. Trillo did not raise the prospect that the soldiers would be
withdrawn soon.
Surrounding the island were four Spanish warships and air reconnaissance
patrols above. Witnesses said the warships were withdrawn by late Thursday
and replaced by fast-attack naval craft, an assertion disputed by Trillo.
Spain also increased security in its North African enclave of Ceuta,
which borders Morocco. Diplomatic sources said additional forces and tanks
were brought to the area amid an alert that Moroccans might launch an
attack. The troops were said to have banned Moroccans from entering the
enclave.
Madrid has offered to withdraw its troops from Perejil, but officials
linked this to a Moroccan guarantee that it would not return to the island.
On July 11, Moroccan troops captured the tiny uninhabited island, which
Rabat calls Leila.
"It desires to return to the status quo," Spanish Foreign Minister Ana
Palacio said on Thursday. "But for that it requires a serious status quo,
with guarantees. That is to say, if we leave, the Moroccans don't enter and
we return to the situation we had before."
For its part, Rabat has demanded an unconditional Spanish withdrawal.
Some Moroccan officials have warned of a reprisal in wake of the Spanish
military operation.
The Spanish-Moroccan standoff has divided Arabs from their European
neighbors. The European Union and NATO have supported Madrid while the Arab
League and the Organization of Islamic states have endorsed Rabat's claims
to the island.
But an EU spokesman said on Thursday that Brussels does not intend to
reduce cooperation or aid to Rabat amid the standoff. The EU official, who
represents Chris Patten, European commissioner for external affairs, said
the EU plans to continue counter-terrorism and other forms of security and
economic cooperation with Morocco.
