Smara
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Smara, also Semara, is a city (50,000 in 1999) in the disputed region of Western Sahara, Morocco. The largest city in the province, Smara was founded in 1902 by Chej Ma El Ainin, who declared himself an imam and began a war against French colonialism.
It was in Smara in 1973 that the Polisario Front was formed by about 10,000 Sahrawi.
The Moroccan army took the city from Polisario forces in 1976, sparking an exodus of Sahrawi towards Algeria to escape Moroccan retribution for their part in the revolt. On the way to Algeria the Moroccan airforce napalmed the refugees; Amnesty International has estimated the casualites at almost 530.
External links
- Entry in Lexicorient (http://lexicorient.com/morocco/smara.htm)
- A travelogue of Smara (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0880011467/qid=1119216673/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/103-4242853-0562202?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)