DAKAR, April 24, 2009 (AFP) - Air Senegal International "has stopped operating and cancelled all of its flights," according to a statement Friday by Royal Air Maroc (RAM) which holds a majority stake in the company.

"For several weeks Royal Air Maroc has warned its Senegalese co-shareholders that there was a risk Air Senegal would stop its activities. Today Air Senegal has stopped operating and cancelled all its flights," the statement said

Air Senegal International (ASI) was created in 2000 with RAM holding a 51 percent stake in the company and the Senegalese state 49 percent. For almost two years ago, RAM and Dakar have been at odds with each other.

Late in 2007, the Senegalese state announced it was taking control of ASI, accusing the RAM of bad management. The Moroccans have been pressing Dakar to take effective control of ASI, saying they will withdraw otherwise.