Morocco threatens to pull out of UN missions after 'disrespectful' protests

Morocco plans to reduce staff at the United Nations’ Western Sahara mission and threatened to pull out of U.N. peacekeeping missions worldwide after “unacceptable” comments by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon about the disputed region, according to MAP state news agency on Tuesday.

The statement came on Tuesday after Ban met with Morocco’s foreign minister to express his anger over statements by the Moroccan government and a demonstration in Rabat which he said was “disrespectful” and a personal attack following his Western Sahara remarks.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon disappointed and angry at huge protest in Morocco over Western Sahara https://t.co/9NtSGrxzKo

— The Associated Press (@AP) March 15, 2016

Rabat accused Ban last week of no longer being neutral in the Western Sahara conflict, saying he used the word “occupation” to describe Morocco’s presence in the region that has been at the center of a dispute since 1975.