Burns: Washington committed to political solution for Sahara conflict

Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East, William Burns, said, here Thursday, his country is committed to a political settlement of the Sahara issue, calling for dialogue between Morocco and Algeria.

"I've made very clear once again that the US is committed to a political solution" to the Sahara issue, Burns told a joint press briefing with Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister, Mohamed Benaissa.

The three-decade Sahara conflict opposes Morocco to the Algeria-backed separatist group that is claiming the secession of the southern region of Morocco, known as the Sahara. Morocco describes this dispute as a regional conflict between Rabat and Algiers.

The American official noted that Washington "will continue to encourage Morocco and Algeria to improve their bilateral relationship in order to create a better atmosphere for both Moroccans and Algerians, and the Maghreb as a whole, and ultimately to find a political solution to the Sahara question."

In this context, the American official hailed Morocco's decision to lift visa requirement for Algerian citizens, adding his country will continue to support the efforts of UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and his representative to work with the parties.