Ambassador Recall

Morocco is recalling its ambassador to Madrid over King Juan Carlos's plans to visit Ceuta and Melilla:

"Morocco recalled its ambassador to Spain yesterday to show its irritation at plans by King Juan Carlos to visit Spain's two north African enclaves, which Morocco claims as its own.

"Spain said the king would make his first visit as head of state to the small, densely populated cities of Ceuta and Melilla on Morocco's Mediterranean coast next Monday and Tuesday, accompanied by Queen Sofia.

"High-level Spanish trips to Ceuta and Melilla are rare and a visit by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in 2006, the first by a Spanish head of government since 1981, raised hackles in Morocco."