Protests in al-Oyoun of initiative of Moroccan king over western Sahara

Sources in the people's front for the liberation of the al-Saqeya al-Hamra and Wadi al-Zahab, the Polesario, said that the Moroccan army was deployed in the streets of al-Oyoun city, the largest cities of the western Sahara, in order to withstand large demonstrations organized by the people of the city.

The front said that the demonstrations came in protest of a speech made by the Moroccan king Muhammad VI last week in which he talked on the possibility of giving the people of the Sahara an autonomy.

However, the Moroccan minister of information Nabil Bin Abdullah stressed in a statement to al-Jazeera satellite TV that the police forces in al-Oyoun used only 350 soldiers, and accused protesters of trying to attack public properties.

King Muhammad announced his decision on consulting the political parties in Morocco over the issue of offering self-rule to the Sahara under the Moroccan kingdom sovereignty. He explained that this comes in the course of care to reach a solution through negotiations, noting that the people of the Sahara will be also consulted, especially tribes chieftains.

In October, Morocco notified the UN its readiness for negotiations with Algeria and the Polesraio front over this issue. This came during a tour by the UN delegate to the western Sahara, Peter Van, to get to know about the positions of sides involved.

In 2003, the UN former delegate to the Sahara issue, James Baker, proposed a plan to settle the conflict stated a five year self rule to be followed by a referendum over the self destination. However, Rabat refused this plan and also the referendum considering they are inapplicable and proposed, on the other hand, a vast self rule under the Moroccan sovereignty.