Morocco insists Spain must return seized island

By John Spader, Rabat

Earlier on Wednesday, Spanish forces evicted a unit of Moroccan soldiers from the island, which Spain calls Perejil and Morocco calls Leila. Morocco said the Spanish move was an act of aggression.

"The kingdom of Morocco protests with force against this unjustified aggression, at the moment when Morocco and Spain were trying to resolve this crisis by diplomatic means," said a statement issued by the official news agency MAP.

"The Moroccan government urges the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Spanish forces," the statement read. "The island is an integral part of Moroccan territory."

The standoff began last Thursday, when a security force of 12 Moroccans landed on the soccer-field-sized island, set up tents and raised their national flag. Morocco has said it aims to set up a surveillance post to fight terrorism and illegal immigrant-trafficking in the area.

The island has belonged to Spain since 1668, but is claimed by Morocco. There has been no Spanish presence on there for 40 years.

Spanish forces removed six Moroccan soldiers from the island in a dawn operation on Wednesday. By mid-morning, a dozen Spanish soldiers had taken up defence positions along the island's periphery, as two soldiers patrolled the island and five warships circled nearby waters.

Spain took action after consulting with the UN Security Council and the country's allies, according to a statement from the office of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar.

The six Moroccans were brought to Ceuta, a Spanish North African enclave three miles from the island, and repatriated several hours later.