Annan recommends two-month extension of MINURSO

UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, on Tuesday recommended the extension for two months of the mandate of the MINURSO (French acronym of the UN mission for the referendum in the Sahara).

The recommendation is contained in Annan's latest report to the Security Council on the MINURSO, which was first deployed in 1991.

Annan who pointed out that "there has been some progress," said the two-month extension, through 30 June, should be used to provide time for further consultations with the parties.

The report said Annan made his proposal at the recommendation of his Personal Envoy, James Baker III.

The UN has been trying since the early nineties to implement a settlement plan in the Sahara-- a Moroccan southern territory, formerly under Spanish rule and retrieved by Morocco in 1975 but whose sovereignty is claimed by a separatist gang.

The plan, providing for the holding of a referendum to enable the population of the territory to choose between independence and integration with Morocco, has been hampered by the other party which seeks to shrink the voters' rolls.

According to a UN spokesman, the Security Council is expected to consider the report during consultations on Thursday.

The 264-strong MINURSO, whose mandate is set to expire on 30 April, includes military observers, troops and civilian police.