The fourth round of UN-facilitated negotiations between Morocco and the Algerian-backed separatist movement "Polisario" on the Sahara dispute wrapped up, here Tuesday, with the parties agreeing to continue these talks in the future. "In  concluding this fourth round of talks, the parties reiterated their commitment to continue the negotiations at Manhasset at a date to be determined by common agreement," a communiqué of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Sahara, Peter Van Walsum, said on Tuesday.   The communiqué read by Mr. Van Walsum at the end of this round, added that "the discussions focused on the implementation of the Security Council resolutions 1754 and 1783. The parties also discussed thematic subjects such as administration, justices and resources."

Morocco remains committed to the negotiations process underway with the Algerian-backed separatist movement Polisario, but remains fully intransigent over its territorial integrity, members of the Moroccan delegation to the UN-facilitated negotiations on the Sahara said here late at night.

Several political, community and human rights groups from the Saharan provinces have denounced "Polisario" provocation in Tifariti in the Moroccan Sahara and called on Algeria to stop undermining efforts to seeking a final political solution to the Sahara issue. In statements to the MAP, these groups said that the provocations by the "Polisario" is a desperate attempt seeking to influence the 4th round of negotiations in Manhasset that Morocco went to with good faith on the basis of the Moroccan autonomy initiative. Polisario acts spring from its bad faith and its determination, along with its protector, Algeria, to impede any settlement of the Sahara issue, and go against the international community which welcomed the Moroccan proposal, they added.

Morocco on Monday made it clear that the 32-year old Sahara dispute with the Polisario separatist movement will not be resolved without Algeria's "active involvement" in the UN-led peace process.

Minister of the Interior Chakib Benmoussa on Saturday said Morocco continues to extend its hand to the other party (the Polisario separatists) to reach together a solution to the Sahara dispute in the framework of the North African country's proposed autonomy to this territory. Speaking in New York on the eve of the fourth round of UN-led negotiations on the Sahara in Manhasset,  (March 16-18), the Moroccan Minister who is leading the Moroccan delegation to these talks, insisted that Morocco's proposal constitutes a realistic platform for a final settlement of the 32-year old dispute over the Sahara. A former Spanish colony, the territory was ceded to Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accords.