Qaddafi promises friendly ties to surprised Morocco

Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi has promised to restore friendly relations with Morocco after more than a decade of acrimony. Qaddafi paid a three-day visit to Morocco last weekend, his first in 14 years , to the surprise of Moroccan and foreign observers. In the past he had encouraged Moroccan officers to overthrow King Hassan and strongly backed Polisario Front guerrillas fighting Morocco for control of the Western Sahara.

A joint communique at the end of the visit said Qaddafi and the King wanted to establish fraternal relations and let the Organization of African Unity settle the Western Sahara dispute. Moroccan officials were cautious about the permanent results of the visit.