Algerian diplomat attacks Moroccan Secretary at Tokyo TICAD 9 meeting

Moroccan media shows video of an Algerian diplomat physically assaulting a Moroccan secretary at the preparatory meeting for the International Ministerial Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Tokyo.  A video shows the Algerian diplomat tackling the Moroccan secretary and pushing him to the ground. According to Moroccan media the incident occurred when the Moroccan secretary attempted to remove a card representing the self-styled “Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic” (RASD). It was an unusual diplomatic incident and Japanese representatives intervened and reinforced Japan’s official stance on the Sahara dispute. They also explained that Japan had not invited any Polisario delegation and did not recognize the separatist group.