UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has invited the parties in the Western Sahara dispute to meet on 14 May in London with his Personal Envoy, James Baker III.
Baker intends to consult with the two parties—Morocco and the Polisario Front—and neighbouring Algeria and Mauritania, and explore ways to achieve an early, durable and agreed resolution of the dispute, UN spokesman David Wimhurst said on Tuesday.
The Polisario Front is fighting for the independence of the former Spanish colony, occupied by Morocco since 1975.
The two sides have been negotiating aspects of a referendum in which the people of Western Sahara are to choose between independence and integration with Morocco, and on which the parties hold divergent views, particularly regarding eligibility to vote.
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