Security Council welcomes Polisario's release of over 200 prisoners

The United Nations Security Council today welcomed the Frente Polisario's release on Monday of 243 Moroccan prisoners of war, and called on it to immediately release all remaining POWs.

In a statement to the press, current Council President Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry of the United Kingdom, said the 15 nation body welcomed the release by the Frente Polisario para la Liberación de Saguía el-Hamra y del Río de Oro (POLISARIO Front), of the prisoners on Monday, who were repatriated to Morocco by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

He said the members "reaffirmed the Council's call in resolution 1495 that the Polisario Front release without further delay all remaining POWs in compliance with international humanitarian law."

Stressing the critical need for a political solution to settle the dispute over Western Sahara, that resolution, unanimously adopted on 31 July, extended by three months the mandate of the UN mission there (MINURSO), and called on all the to work with the UN, and each other, towards acceptance and implementation of a new peace plan for self-determination of the people of the territory.

Bordered by Morocco, Mauritania and Algeria, Western Sahara was administered by Spain until 1976. The UN has been seeking a peace settlement since the withdrawal of Spain and the ensuing fight between Morocco, which had "reintegrated" the territory, and the Frente POLISARIO, which seeks self rule.