Havana, June 1 (RHC)- The Cuban government has decreed a three-day official mourning for the death of Saharawi President and the head and co-founder of the Polisario Front independence movement in the Western Sahara, Mohamed Abdelaziz.

A press release published by the Cuban News Agency said that the Cuban Council of State declared the official mourning from 6:00 a.m. local time on June 1 until 12:00 pm on June 2nd.

During the mourning period, the national flag will be lowered to half-staff on public buildings and military institutions throughout Cuba.

According to sources from the Saharawi Embassy in Algeria, Abdelaziz died after a battle against cancer.  The late leader headed an intense struggle against the occupation of Morocco, which invaded the Sahara in 1975 after the withdrawal of the Spanish colonists in the same year.

Cuba has always supported the right of Saharawi people to fight for their self-determination and independence at all international forums.