Moroccan king visits Western Sahara

Polisario has been fighting for independence since 1976

King Mohammed VI of Morocco has begun a two-day tour of Western Sahara, in a move officials say asserts Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory.

It is King Mohammed's second visit there in the past four months.

The Polisario Front, which seeks independence for Western Sahara, described the trip as "a provocative expedition."

The territory was annexed by Morocco after the former colonial power, Spain, pulled out in 1975 and its status has remained in dispute ever since.

Despite the ceasefire, peace talks are deadlocked

There has been no serious fighting since both sides signed an agreement in 1991 to settle the Western Sahara issue through a referendum.

But voting has never taken place because of disagreements between Morocco and the Polisario Front about who is eligible to take part.

Last year, the UN Secretary General 's special representative on Western Sahara, James Baker, presented a plan that would give the region limited autonomy for about four years under Moroccan sovereignty.

Morocco has backed the plan, while Polisario has rejected it.

In January the Polisario Front released 115 Moroccan prisoners of war.