U.N. Sahara mission spent $45 million in 98-99

The United Nations mission for the referendum in the Sahara (MINURSO) spent $45 million between July 98 and June 99.

Unused sums amounted to more than $15 million, the United Nations secretary-general said in a report on MINURSO financing.

The MINURSO which supervises a cease-fire in force since September 1991 currently comprises 203 military observers, 10 staff officers, 248 troops and 80 civilian police observers.

The unused sums were so high because of the interruption of the identification of would be voters in the self-determination referendum the U.N. plan to hold in the Sahara.

Identification stopped because of the Polisario's refusal to help register thousands of genuine Sahrawis on the voting rolls.

The vote seeks to determine whether the Sahara --a former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975-- sets up on its own, as claimed by the Polisario, or remains part of Morocco.