Obama, Morocco's king to meet at White House

[November 22, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is welcoming Morocco's King Mohammed VI to the White House for talks on a range of issues.

The White House had said earlier this month when it announced Friday's Oval Office meeting that Obama wanted to discuss Morocco's political reforms, along with violent extremism, democratic transitions and economic development in the Middle East and Africa.

But Obama may find himself pressed to support the monarchy in its nasty spat with Algeria, a regional rival, over a disputed region of Western Sahara.

Morocco has long made gaining international recognition for its 1975 annexation of the former Spanish territory a top diplomatic priority. Algeria backs a movement seeking independence, and that has put the two countries at odds for decades.

The U.S. priority in North Africa is fighting terrorism.

[Associated Press]

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