The Sahara issue, opposing Morocco to the Algerian-backed Polisario separatists is "the main obstacle" to development in the Maghreb region (a regional grouping also including Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya), President of the Mauritanian Party for Union and Change (PMUC) said on Wednesday.

Morocco remains committed to the UN-led negotiations on the Sahara dispute (opposing the North African country and the Algerian-backed separatist movement "Polisario"), reiterated, here Tuesday, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, making it clear however that these negotiations should be based on the autonomy and "nothing but autonomy".

 Moroccan Foreign Minister, Mr. Taieb Fassi Fihri, reiterated, on Friday, Morocco's commitment to pursue serious and substantive negotiations on the basis of the Autonomy Initiative, which constitutes a historic opportunity to put an end to the artificial conflict over the Sahara issue, in respect for the territorial integrity and the national sovereignty, and as part of a forward-looking, open and ambitious vision towards a take off of the Maghreb region.

The United States have called, one day after the 4th round of Manhasset talks, to continue real and substantial discussions to reach a mutually acceptable political solution to the Sahara issue.

The Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs participates in the works of the seventh session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, March 12-21, 2008