The refusal by Algeria and the Polisario separatists to conduct a census of the population held in Tindouf camps, southwestern Algeria, impedes the mission of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, on a visit to the region, Ahmedou Ould Souilem,former Polisario leader, said.

Morocco's initiative to grant substantial autonomy to its southern provinces, the Sahara, is "open and fair", Liberia's Vice President, Joseph N. Boakai, said here Friday.

Libyan official sources firmly denied on Tuesday, statements attributed to the guide of the Libyan Revolution, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, saying that "the only possible solution to the Sahara issue passes through a referendum of self-determination ".

The Regional Investment Center of the Laayoune Boujdour Sakia El Hamra Region, said the Regional Investment Committee has approved during the first six months of 2009, four investment projects with a value MAD 776 200 000.

The dispute over the Sahara issue undermines the regional economic integration and its persistence threatens security and stability in sub-Saharan Africa, Zhang Ming, Director General of African Department at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Friday in Rabat.