US delegation to visit the West Sahara

A US delegation composed of officials from the Democratic Party will launch a visit to West Sahara at the invitation of Moroccan authorities. The delegation will meet with Moroccan Prime Minister Abdel Rahman El-Youssefi and Interior Minister Idris El-Basri.

The delegation, headed by American Jewish Committee leader Antia Friklas, met yesterday with local authorities and leaders of Saharan tribes that support Morocco and who are participating under the supervision of United Nations identity committee in the process of identifying Saharan people for the upcoming December self-rule referendum.

The leaders of tribes were previously charged by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in his message to the international organization's mission to West Sahara as aligning to the Polisario front.

Since 1975 the Polisario front has called for the West Sahara's independence.