BBC News | AFRICA | Moroccan king visits Western Sahara

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Tuesday, 5 March, 2002, 18:32 GMT

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. Soldier in the Western Sahara

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.

Related to this story:
Polisario releases Moroccan POWs (17 Jan 02 | Middle East) Annan urges Polisario to free Moroccans (12 Jan 02 | Africa) Country profile: Morocco (27 Dec 01 | Country profiles) Chirac stirs tension in Sahara (03 Dec 01 | Africa) Polisario calls for royal talks (23 Nov 01 | Africa) Moroccan king stokes tensions in Sahara (01 Nov 01 | Africa) Analysis: New phase in Sahara conflict (02 Jul 01 | Africa) Sahara refugees' long wait (01 Mar 01 | Africa)

Internet links: Government of Morocco | Western Sahara Referendum Association | International Committee of the Red Cross | UN mission for Western Sahara |
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