Morocco 'won't reoccupy island'

Spanish troops ejected a small Morocco troop contingent

MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- Morocco's Foreign Minister Mohamed Benaissa has promised that his country will not reoccupy a disputed Mediterranean island currently held by Spain -- if Spain vacates it.

A Spanish Foreign Ministry spokesman told CNN on Friday the minister's statement, broadcast on Spanish radio station SER on Thursday night, was seen as "good intentions, but that Spain would prefer he put out this message, not on radio, but through diplomatic channels."

The spokesman told CNN that the Spanish and Moroccan foreign ministers have not talked since Wednesday, the day that Spanish commandos, in a bloodless raid, ousted six Moroccan soldiers who had been occupying the disputed island since July 11.

The island -- called Perejil (Parsley) by Spain, Leila (Night) by Morocco -- had been occupied by Moroccan soldiers since last Thursday.

EXTRA INFORMATION Disputed island: Facts    RESOURCES Map of disputed island     QUICKVOTE Who should own tiny uninhabited Perejil island? Spain Morocco Joint View Results

Morocco claims the island as part of its territory, but Madrid says the island is Spanish and that the two countries had agreed years ago to leave it uninhabited. (Island facts)

The United States and the European Union, of which Spain is a member, have urged both countries to return to the pre-July 11 status quo in which the tiny, rocky, barren island was uninhabited except for a few grazing goats.

Spain's foreign minister said shortly after ousting the Moroccans that his country's troops did not intend to stay on the island but wanted a commitment before leaving that Morocco would not reoccupy it.

Benaissa is to go to France on Friday to press Morocco's case before its former colonial master, and then later to Brussels, headquarters of the European Union.

Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio made the comments on a late-night talk show on Spain's state television. (Full Story)