The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, called on the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, on Wednesday, to "intervene urgently" so as to save the lives of innocent Saharawi citizens in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, who are peacefully advocating their people’s right to self-determination and independence.

"We express you our vivid concerns in front of the latest confrontations that took place on Sunday in the occupied city of Smara that caused 14 injured persons and 5 ransacked houses", Mr. Abdelaziz wrote in a letter he addressed to Ban Ki-Moon, of which SPS received a copy.

He further warned against "the consequences of this tension", renewing his call on the UN Secretary General to "exercise pressures on Morocco to put an end to oppression against the helpless Saharawi citizens" in the zone of Western Sahara under its occupation.

"The Moroccan government tries to fail the efforts of the international community through the fierce repression and the delays in the implementation of the recommendations of the UN Security Councils resolution 1754, and by escaping its international engagements", Mr. Abdelaziz added.

He estimated that "these repressive practices do not help in creating suitable conditions for the holding of concrete negotiations", between the two parties to the conflict in Western Sahara, POLISARIO Front and Morocco, with a view to reach a just and lasting solution to the last case of decolonisation in Africa.

"The responsibility of the UN in finishing the decolonisation process in Western Sahara by enabling the Saharawi people to exercise its inalienable right to self-determination and independence. This responsibility exhorts the UN now to protect the citizens in the occupied zone from the oppression exercised by the Moroccan occupation and guarantee their fundamental rights, mainly he freedom of expression, gathering and movement".

The victims of the latest act of oppression in the occupied city of Smara are: Soukeina Laajeil, Mariem Bahaha, Tfarah Lemsaoui, Sayhouta Bah (5ans), Zoueina Bah, Zoura Khatri et sa fille Bouchra Laajeil, Hani Hmeidaha, Hafidha Zaiir, Tfarah Zaiir, Meimouna Mohamed Salem Haddi, Nafa Latrach, Abdallah Moulaye Ahmed and Abdallah Nadhif.

The ransacked houses are the houses of the families of: Mohamed Salem Hidi, Hmeidaha, Laajeil, Ali Latrach Nafa and Zaiir.