Feinstein, who had a meeting Thursday with US State Secretary, Hillary Clinton, said "we are on the same wavelength" on the issue, stressing that Morocco "has been a staunch ally of the United States."

    Commending Morocco's sincere will to reach a solution to the Sahara issue on the basis of autonomy, Feinstein said that Clinton and herself reaffirmed, during this meeting, their support for the UN efforts to break the long-standing political stalemate over this issue.

   Clinton received a letter signed by "a rare" bipartisan majority of senators that cited "growing instability" and "worrisome trends" in North Africa, The Hill recalled.

   The letter was signed by 54 Republican and Democrat senators, including ranking Intelligence Committee member Kit Bond (R-Mo.), GOP Whip Jon Kyl (Ariz.) and 2008 GOP presidential nominee John McCain (Ariz.).

   "We are very concerned about the mounting instability in North Africa. Terrorist activities are increasing and countries in the region are under substantial pressure," the letter said.

   "The United States in close cooperation with our allies in Europe and the region can help stabilize the situation and reverse these worrisome trends," they added, calling for a "more sustained American attention to one of the region's most pressing political issues, the Sahara."

    Several US experts said this letter is an "important support " for Morocco's  autonomy plan that comes in the light of the letter sent to president Obama last year by 229 representatives, representing both political parties.

   Others described the plan as "well thought out and very comprehensive", stressing that they had "not seen anything put forward from any country in the region that even comes close the Moroccan Autonomy plan."

Source: MAP
News and events concerning Western Sahara issue/ Corcas