Extension of MINURSO's mandate recommended

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday recommended a three-month extension to 14 December of the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). The extension, on which the Security Council will decide early next week, is aimed at enabling the United Nations to finish registering voters, processing appeals and repatriating refugees ahead of the referendum, scheduled for the year 2000. MINURSO was set up under a 1988 Settlement Plan to monitor a ceasefire between the Moroccan army and guerrillas of the Polisario Front fighting for independence for the former Spanish colony annexed by Morocco in 1975. As at 6 September, 230 MINURSO military observers and troops from 24 countries were involved in monitoring the ceasefire, Annan said in his report. MINURSO's tasks also include identifying and registering eligible voters. Annan said 80 civilian police observers were assisting the Identification Commission at identification and appeals centres. Next year's referendum will determine whether Western Sahara is to gain full independence or become part of Morocco. A provisional list of eligible voters was issued on 15 July 1999. Annan said the Identification Commission expected to finish identifying applicants by year's end, but reviewing the 47,796 appeals would require more time and staff than originally envisaged. As at 3 September, some 40,440 persons had appealed against their exclusion from the provisional list. The other 7,356 appeals were from people challenging the inclusion of others on the list.