Rabat, 8 Mar - (ANA) - A request by Nigerian authorities for a phone conversation between His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has been refused on the grounds that it would be "inappropriate" in view of the upcoming elections in Nigeria, Morocco’s foreign ministry has said. In a statement, the ministry said the Sovereign refused to accept the request which he deemed "inappropriate" on grounds that it is linked to the important elections in Nigeria and also because of Nigeria’s positions regarding the sacred national, Arab and Islamic causes. The Nigerian authorities request for the phone conversation and the sending of a Nigerian envoy to the Kingdom is akin to an attempt to gain Muslim votes rather than a normal diplomatic act, the statement added. (ANA)

FA/ANA/8 March 2015----------