The United States voiced hope that the Algerian-backed separatist movement, Polisario, will engage in discussions on the basis of the Moroccan proposal to grant substantial autonomy to the former Spanish colony, the Sahara, describing it as a realistic starting point likely to lead to a solution to this conflict.

Polisario has the choice between autonomy or to stay in Tindouf Camps

The Chairman of the Royal Council for Sahara Affairs (CORCAS), Khalihenna Ould Errachid said, here Wednesday, that the Algerian-backed Polisario separatists have only two choices: to accept Morocco's autonomy proposal for the Sahara, or to stay in the Tindouf camps, southwestern Algeria.

Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario separatists have agreed to meet on March 11 through 13 in Manhasset, New York, for a fourth round of talks on the Sahara, UN Secretary General's Personal Envoy, Peter Van Walsum announced on Wednesday.

Morocco rejects "any attempt to impose situations as facts on the ground, or to undermine the Kingdom's territorial integrity, inside its true borders, or the nation's immutable, inalienable sovereignty," underlined, here Tuesday, Moroccan Interior minister.

The United Nations Secretary General's Personal Envoy, Peter Van Walsum, reiterated, here Tuesday, the UN's call on the parties to show political will and good faith in the third round of negotiations that kicked off this Tuesday morning.