Polisario independence movement picks head with ties to Algeria
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ALGIERS- The Polisario Front, the Western Sahara independence movement, has elected a new leader, founding member Brahim Ghali, following the death of its top chief for four decades.
APS, the official Algerian news agency, reported the election of Ghali as new secretary general, which automatically makes him president of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, recognized by numerous African nations.
The election Saturday to replace Mohamed Abdelaziz, who died on May 31, took place at a refugee camp in Dakhla, in Western Sahara territory which Morocco annexed in 1975 and claims as its "southern provinces."
Ghali, 66, served as ambassador to Algeria, which backs the Polisario.
