The United Nations Security Council has decided to maintain its mission in Western Sahara for another month to allow preparations for the referendum on the future of the disputed territory.

In a unanimous decision, the Security Council called on Morocco and the Polisario Front, which wants an independent state, to allow UN staff to begin the task of repatriating voters ahead of the referendum, due in December 1999.

The Secretary General, Kofi Annan, visisted the region last month in an attempt to speed up voter identification which has been plagued by disagreements over who is eligible to vote.