Morocco King Rejects Referendum

Associated Press
06 Nov. 2002

By NICOLAS MARMIE, Associated Press Writer

RABAT, Morocco (AP) - Morocco's king on Wednesday rejected a U.N.
plan to resolve a decades-long, bloody dispute over a territory his
country claims.

King Mohammed VI said the call for a referendum in Western Sahara to
determine whether the people want independence is "null" and
"inapplicable," his first public dismissal of the plan first put
forward in 1991.

Moroccans marched into the mineral-rich territory known then as
Spanish Sahara in 1975, annexing it to their country. That set off a
rebellion by Polisario Front guerrillas, demanding independence.

In mediation efforts that included former Secretary of State James
Baker, the U.N. came up with the referendum plan, resulting in a
cease-fire. But the two sides could not even agree over who was
eligible to take part, and the vote was never held.

The king, speaking on the 27th anniversary of the march, said the
territory could be granted autonomy but should belong to Morocco,
noting that France supports that solution. France, a former colonial
power, still wields significant influence in North Africa.

The next attempt to resolve the dispute may come from Africa, not
the U.N.

South African President Thabo Mbeki might use his influence as
chairman of the African Union to try to mediate, a South African
official said.

However, Morocco refuses to join the newly formed African Union,
because it recognizes Western Sahara's independence.


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Forwarded by:
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Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara
wsahara2@...

*** Referendum now! ***
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update
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