Algeria and South Africa condemn human rights violations in occupied territories of Western Sahara:

Algiers, 27 May, 2010: Algeria and South Africa have condemned human rights violations in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, according to a statement released Wednesday in Algiers following the fifth session of the Algerian - South African High Commission of Cooperation.

The statement said the Algerian President, Abdul Aziz Bouteflika, and his South African counterpart, Mr. Jacob Zuma, reiterated in their talks on the recent developments of the situation in Western Sahara that it is a "question of decolonization," which must be resolved on the basis of the "right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people through the organization of a referendum."

The statement added that the two presidents "condemned," when addressing the situation of human rights in Western Sahara, human rights violations in the occupied territories.

According to the statement, the two heads of state "appealed urgently" to the United Nations to assume its responsibilities in this respect, particularly through the establishment of a mechanism for the protection of human rights in Western Sahara.

According to the:(SPS)