Luanda — The Angolan president, José Eduardo dos Santos, lunched Wednesday, at the Presidential Palace in Luanda with the his counterpart of the of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz.

The two leaders did not make any pronouncements. Prior to the lunch, Jose Eduardo dos Santos and Mohamed Abdelaziz held a private meeting. It is believed that the two leaders have tackled issues related to strengthening of cooperation and friendship ties between the two African States and peoples. It is known that Mohamed Abdelaziz has asked for political and diplomatic support to the Sahara cause.

Upon arrival at the presidential palace, at about 12.0 pm, the Saharawi leader received welcome greetings from the Angolan statesman, had military honours and reviewed the troops on parade. The President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic arrived at midmorning in Angola.

The Western Sahara is a territory in North Africa, bounded on the north by Morocco, on the east by Algeria, east and south by Mauritania to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, where it borders with the autonomous region of the Spanish Canary Islands.

With the support of Angola, the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic was admitted in 1982 at the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU).