At 2 AM this morning, a Norwegian delegation was expelled from Western Sahara by Moroccan authorities. The delegation was lead by the chair of the Rafto Foundation, Arne Lynngård. The other participants were representatives of the Norwegian Labour Party, the Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees, as well as the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara.

The Saharawi human rights activist, Mr. Allal Latif is still missing after the Norwegian visit. Latif functioned as an interpreter for the delegation, and several independent sources observed him being apprehended by the Moroccan police yesterday at 6 PM local time. When he was taken in, he was questioned on the agenda of his Norwegian guests.

The Norwegians immediately approached the police station in the Western Sahara capital, El Aaioun, to demand his release. The Moroccan chief of police denied to the delegation that they had him in their custody. Now, the Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara fears for Latif's safety and demands his immediate and unconditional release. Several prisoners have been severely tortured during the last weeks.

The delegation resisted being expelled as long as possible, hoping for Latif's reappearance. At 2 AM tonight, the chief of police personally intervened, forcing the members of the delegation into the awaiting taxis.

25 police officers participated in the expulsion. Some 200 police troops were observed waiting in the area outside the hotel, probably expecting subsequent demonstrations by the Saharawis. A Spanish photographer working for the newspaper ABC documented the entire episode. His camera was later confiscated.

Today at 4 AM, the delegation crossed the border to Morocco. The group has police escort all the way to Agadir. They are expected to arrive around 12 AM CET.