Clashes in disputed Morocco territory

Reports from Morocco say security forces have clashed with residents of a town in the disputed Moroccan-controlled territory of Western Sahara.

A BBC correspondent in Rabat says the unrest is focused on the oasis settlement of Smara, and is believed to have started when Moroccan police disrupted a sit-down protest taking place at the local government headquarters.

The radio station of the Polisario independence movement reported that some demonstrators and police were badly injured and several vehicles set on fire.

There has been increased security in the Western Sahara since a tour by King Mohammed last month.

His visit to Smara was cancelled, reportedly because of bad weather but Polisario say that trouble was already brewing in the area.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service