Spain rattles sabre at Morocco

Spain has reinforced its military presence on the Chafarinas Islands off the coast of Morocco amid growing tensions over another island.

Spain's Interior Minister Mariano Rajoy said additional soldiers were deployed after a Moroccan patrol boat was spotted near the Chafarinas, three islands which lie east of the Spanish enclave of Melilla and have been under Madrid's control since 1847.

Morocco had earlier rejected Spanish demands to withdraw a group of soldiers from the disputed islet of Perejil - which Morocco calls Leila - which lies to the north-west of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

The troops landed on the islet - the size of a football pitch - and raised two flags there.

Rabat said the soldiers were setting up an observation post on the islet to help combat terrorism and illegal immigration, and had "every right" to be there.

'Worrying'

This is the latest in a series of spats between the two countries in recent months, which have raised tensions and led to Morocco withdrawing its ambassador from Madrid.