Spain sends war vessels after island takeover

Spain has sent three war vessels to protect its possessions in North Africa as Morocco continued a military occupation of an uninhabited Spanish islet for a third day.

Defence Minister Federico Trillo says a frigate had arrived in Ceuta and two corvettes in Melilla, referring to Spain's two city enclaves.

The ships were sent after 12 Moroccan soldiers landed on Perejil island, a barren rock just off Morocco's coast which Spain says it has controlled since the 17th century.

News reports said a further a corvette and a submarine were on their way to the zone.

Spain sent a letter of protest to the Moroccan embassy, but has yet to receive a formal response.

A government spokesman said Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar maintained permanent contact with Mr Trillo and his deputy, Mariano Rajoy, and Foreign Minister Ana Palacio to monitor the situation.

The incident worsened relations between the two countries since Morocco unexpectedly withdrew its ambassador to Madrid last October without any explanation.

Ms Palacio says she telephoned her Moroccan counterpart Mohamed Benaissa and hoped the latest problem could be resolved diplomatically.

She upheld the government's claim that the landing was an unfriendly act, but said it would be exaggerated to call it an invasion.