Spain offers conditional withdrawal from Perejil
Spanish soldiers in helicopters landed on Perejil island early yesterday after several Moroccans put up tents and raised flags on the tiny outcrop a week ago.
Morocco said the Spanish action was tantamount to "an act of war", but Foreign Minister Ana Palacio said "Spain has no desire to stay in Perejil. It desires to return to the status quo ante, but for that it requires a serious status quo, with guarantees. That is to say, if we leave, the Moroccans do not enter and we return to the situation we had before." Palacio said outside mediation was not needed to end the dispute.
