"We maintain that it (the autonomy plan) is serious, realistic and credible and that it is able to satisfy the aspirations of the populations of the Sahara to manage their own affairs in peace and dignity," said Pablo Rodriguez, an official at the State Department, in a statement to MAP-Washington.

The Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara "represents a potential approach to resolving the Sahara issue," the U.S. diplomat stressed.

Washington's reaction comes in the wake of the working visit paid by Moroccan minister Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Nasser Bourita to the U.S. federal capital.

On Monday, the minister held talks at the State Department with Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, President Trump's National Security Advisor John Bolton, David Hale, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and Brian Hook, Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of State and Special Representative for Iran.

The meetings were held in the presence of HM the king’s ambassador in Washington, Lalla Joumala Alaoui.

News and events on Western Sahara issue/ CORCAS