abc News
by the Associated Press
Sweden says it won’t recognize a disputed territory in Western Sahara as an independent republic, a move that could end a months-long row with Morocco.
The Swedish Foreign Ministry said Friday that a government-ordered review of the issue concluded that the conditions for recognizing the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, or SADR, “have not been met.”
Morocco, which annexed the mineral-rich former Spanish colony in 1975, reacted angrily after Sweden last year said it was reviewing its policy on Western Sahara. The Moroccan government said it would consider boycotting Swedish products and companies.
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said Friday that Sweden would support U.N. efforts to resolve the conflict and “recognition would not further that process.”
