Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06RABAT1976
2006-10-20 15:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rabat
Cable title:  

PHOSPHATE CONVEYER SABOTAGED IN WESTERN SAHARA

Tags:  PTER PREL MA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5962
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHRB #1976 2931545
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 201545Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY RABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5009
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001976 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2016
TAGS: PTER PREL MA
SUBJECT: PHOSPHATE CONVEYER SABOTAGED IN WESTERN SAHARA

REF: A. RABAT 1975


B. RABAT 1963

Classified by Political Counselor Craig Karp for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 001976

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2016
TAGS: PTER PREL MA
SUBJECT: PHOSPHATE CONVEYER SABOTAGED IN WESTERN SAHARA

REF: A. RABAT 1975


B. RABAT 1963

Classified by Political Counselor Craig Karp for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (U) Moroccan press has reported that the long conveyer
belt which carries phosphate ore from mines at Bou Craa,
about 70 KM south of Layoune, to Layoune port on the Atlantic
coast was damaged by a sabotage attack October 10. Press
reports blame the Polisario for the attack.


2. (C) During a meeting in his office October 13 the newly
appointed Wali of Layoune, M,hammed Dryef, the governor
responsible for the region including the mine and conveyer
belt briefed visiting Embassy team on the sabotage attack
(rest of meeting reported septel). He passed us several
pictures showing that some of the support elements were
severely damaged. He said the belt would be out of
commission for several days, so that in addition to repair
costs, there would be the cost to the government of the lost
revenue from the phosphates that could not be shipped.
Fortunately, this was in an isolated area and no one was
hurt.


3. (C) The Wali said the explosion was made of a shell
(likely one of the many UXO left over from the long Sahara
war) placed inside a tire. Police had detained a
"perpetrator," who was being interrogated. They were also
looking for another eight individuals whom they believed
involved with the attack, which he blamed on the Polisario


4. (C) Dryef noted that a similar incident had occurred about
a year ago when a large knife had been inserted into the
belt, which, as the belt ran cut itself for a verylong
distance, before the problem was discovered and remediated.
That incident had caused millions of dirhams in damage and
lost productivity.


5. (C) Polcouns noted that the U.S. government resolutely
condemned all acts of terrorism. There could be no
justification for such an attack, and he hoped that Morocco
would pursue the perpetrators in full accordance with its
laws.


6. (C) Comment: The fact that the device was a shell, which
could easily be obtained from the war remnants in the Sahara
desert, suggests that this may have been an independent
effort, probably carried out by Sahrawis, perhaps among the
staff, known to have their own grievances, or by Sahrawis in
Layoune, related to their "intifada," or the ongoing protests
of the resident Sahrawis against the Moroccan presence and
repressive acts associated with it. An attack directly
organized or carried out from Polisario headquarters in
Tindouf would likey have used a more sophisticated and
destructive device. Interestingly, Dryef,s security staff
appeared uneasy with the level of detail he provided (though
the Wali declined to provide us a copy of the report he
showed us). Embassy will report any additional information
we hear about the attack. End comment.

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Riley