The Sahara issue "is a priority for Moroccans and we are engaged with the United Nations to advance a political solution," said a senior US official in Washington.

"Our policy remains the same, Morocco's autonomy plan is serious, realistic and credible," said the official of the State Department.

Asked whether the United States supports the expansion of MINURSO's mandate to cover human rights, he said that his country backs MINURSO's mandate as recently renewed by the Security Council for a period of 12 months.