Algerian-U.N. contacts on Annan's return to north africa soon

Algeria said on Wednesday that it is contacting the United Nations on the return of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to North Africa soon to resume efforts to launch the settlement plan for the Sahara.

"Contacts are underway with Mr Annan for a resumption of his trip within the next few days," Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf told a press conference.

Annan cut short last week a 10-day trip to the region due to the Iraq crisis. He was to visit Tunisia and Algeria to reactivate the process to hold a self-determination referendum in the Sahara. He was also scheduled to travel to the Tindouf camps in south-western Algeria, where the Polisario is headquartered.

The vote is designed to determine whether the Sahara --a former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975-- sets up on its own, as claimed by the Polisario, or be incorporated into Morocco.

Repeatedly postponed, due to Polisario's stalling tactics, the referendum is now scheduled for December 1999.