Led by Interior Minister, Chakib Benmoussa, the delegation met with the British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Margaret  Beckett, and State Minister at the Foreign Office in charge of the Middle East, Kim Howells, and Home Secretary John Reid.
 
   The delegation underlined that Morocco's initiative came in response to the calls of the Security Council, and is in line with the international legality. It also emphasized that the autonomy plan  constitutes "the basis for a final political settlement of  this regional conflict" with the Algerian-backed separatist movement "Polisario".
 
    The disputed territory was retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the tripartite Madrid Accords signed with Spain and Mauritania.
 
    Morocco's plan was also explained to some MPs from the British Labor and Tory parties who described it as "very positive" and "very productive". They wished that Morocco and its eastern neighbor Algeria would reach a solution that would pave the way for the settlement of the dispute for the sake of peace in the North West African region.
 
   The delegation, composed of Minister-delegate for Foreign Affairs, Taieb Fassi Fihri, minister-delegate to the Interior, Fouad Ali El Himma, and head of Morocco's intelligence, Yassine Mansouri, discussed with the British officials the role Great Britain can play within the United Nations as permanent member of the Security Council.
 
    The delegation had earlier visited Paris, Madrid and Washington. In the French capital, it was received by President Jacques Chirac who described the autonomy plan as “constructive” while in Washington, Undersecretary of State William Burns said his government “appreciates” the Moroccan initiative.