Washington, March 22, 2016 (SPS) - The United Nations accused Monday Morocco of "infringing the United Nations charter" and called on the Security Council to act while taking the necessary measures to put an end to excesses of Rabat.
Deputy Spokesman of Ban Ki-moon Farhan Haq affirmed in a press conference that by expelling the MINURSO civil staff, "Morocco infringed the United Nations charter."
After confirming evacuation of the civil staff of this mission from the occupied territories of Western Sahara, Farhan Had stated that "out of the 84 members of the Minurso affected but these measures, 72 left these Sahrawi territories while 11 other members do no longer belong to this mission. Only one member stayed there due to his health condition."
Farhan Haq also said that Morocco ordered the UN to close its military office in Dakhla.
Besides, Farhan Haq warned Morocco against the consequences of its decision and affirmed that "in the absence of an efficient peacekeeping force, tensions will further exacerbate in these territories."
All the civil staff of the Minurso left the occupied territories except Kim Bolduc, special representative of the UN SG for Western Sahara and head of the Minurso, in addition to another sick member, an UN source told APS.
The UN Security Council, which met Monday in camera for the 3rd consecutive time to discuss implications of the measures announced by Morocco on the Minurso, abstained from releasing a statement on this issue.
Three countries, namely France, Senegal and Egypt, block a "strong statement" of the Security Council against Rabat although scheduled before the first meeting held last week, the source added. SPS
125/090/700