Algiers — The Resident Coordinator of the United Nations system in Algeria, Mr. Mamadou Mbaye said Sunday in Algiers that Algeria "is not involved" in the conflict between the POLISARIO Front and the Kingdom of Morocco.

"Algeria is not involved in the conflict between the Polisario Front and the kingdom of Morocco. Algeria should not be drawn to this conflict," said Mbaye, responding to a question from the press regarding the last speech (on November 6th) by the Moroccan king Mohamed VI, where he accused Algeria of "torture" in the Sahrawi refugee camps.

Speaking on the occasion of 50th anniversary of the adhesion of Algeria to the United Nations, Mr. Mbaye said that Algeria, on the contrary, "served" as refuge land to different refugees including those of Western Sahara.

"Algerian government has always welcomed refugees on its territory," he added.

From his part, Representative of the High Commissioner for Refugees in Algeria Mr. Ralf Gruenert said that "we have not seen cases of torture in the Saharawi refugee camps."

Western Sahara, which has been colonized by Morocco since 1975, is the last colony in Africa. It is considered non-autonomous territory by the United Nations since 1966.