ALGIERS, 9 November 2003 — The Polisario Front independence movement yesterday released 300 Moroccan prisoners of war it had been holding near its headquarters in Tindouf, southwestern Algeria, Algeria’s official APS news agency said.
The 300 men, captured during the armed conflict over the Western Sahara which ended with cease-fire accords in 1991, were taken to Tindouf airport after being handed over to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, APS said.
The men, some of whom had been detained for more than 20 years, will fly to Morocco aboard three planes chartered by the Red Cross. Their release, which follows the release of 243 prisoners in September, and smaller groups in previous years, leaves some 600 Moroccans in Polisario hands in the desert town.
An ICRC spokesman in Geneva said Red Cross representatives had spoken with the released men, confirming each wished to fly to Morocco, and had doctors available.
“The prisoners are being questioned individually by members of the ICRC and examined by doctors,” said a spokesman for Polisario. “Once this operation is over they will board three aircraft waiting for them at the airport at Tindouf, 1,500 kilometers southwest of Algiers.”
Polisario leader Mohamed Abdelaziz announced the release on Thursday, saying it was in response to a request from Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, and to mark the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Abdelaziz also said that Morocco was holding 150 Saharan prisoners of war while some 500 others were listed as missing or had been kidnapped.
In August, 243 Moroccan prisoners were released by Polisario and handed over to the ICRC.
