Moroccan Sahara: UN Committee postpones probing Algerian draft resolution

The 4th committee of the UN General Assembly put off, on Thursday, once again probing the Algerian draft resolution on the Sahara question.

The Committee postponed probing the resolution to next Monday to allow parties reach a consensual text and avoid vote on the resolution.

The decision was made by the Committee following the obstinate stance of Algeria that rejected all reference to the special representative, Alvaro De Soto, that was appointed by UN secretary general last June 11 to help reach a political solution -acceptable by all parties - to the Sahara conflict.

The three-decade regional dispute is opposing Morocco to the Polisario guerrilla movement that is claiming the secession of the southern region of Morocco, known as the Sahara. Algeria is the main supporter of the Polisario secessionists and provides them with logistic, military and diplomatic assistance.

Diplomatic sources said Tuesday in New York the list of the co-sponsors of the Algerian resolution on the Moroccan Sahara dossier is rapidly falling apart.

Laos representative said during the committee works that his country has not co-sponsored the draft resolution, while envoys of other countries declared they did not at any moment agree to figure on the list, contrary to Algerian claims. The same sources said the countries that did not agree to sponsor the resolution are, besides Laos, Sierra Leone, Bahamas and Niger.

Algeria failed, on Tuesday, to make members of the committee adopt its draft resolution on the Moroccan Sahara, as they preferred to put off making their decision 48 hours to allow parties reach a consensual text. On a proposal of the European Union, backed by Canada, Senegal and Russia, the Committee decided to give parties additional time to reach a consensual draft resolution.