The former french minister of Culture and Education, Mr. Jack Lang said that the Moroccan autonomy proposal is "wise and reasonable proposal to break the impasse".

"The Sahara is near" was the theme of the first international summer camp in the southern provinces held until August 13, 20 km from laayoune, at the initiative of the Moroccan Alternatives Forum and the Spanish Catholic scouts.

Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister, Zaïnab Bangura, reaffirmed, here Monday, her country's support for Morocco's proposal to grant substantial autonomy to the Sahara region.

The independence of the Sahara is not viable and only autonomy "would make progress in resolving a conflict" that has lasted for over 30 years, said Sunday, the Canary Islands newspaper "La Provincia."

Malian journalists, currently visiting the province of Laayoune, welcomed the "impressive" efforts carried out for the development of southern provinces and improvement of the quality of life of local populations, while welcoming the Moroccan autonomy initiative proposed by the Kingdom for the final settlement of the Sahara.