The World - News from Aug. 31, 1988

The Moroccan government and Polisario Front guerrillas conditionally approved U.N. peace proposals for the Western Sahara, raising the prospect of an end to almost 13 years of war in the desert territory. A U.N. spokesman said in Geneva that the two sides had accepted a plan calling for a cease-fire and a U.N.-supervised referendum on self-determination in the former Spanish colony. Contents of the plan were not disclosed, and both sides reportedly expressed reservations over details. Diplomatic sources said the main obstacle to a settlement now appears to be the size of the Moroccan military and administrative presence that would be allowed to stay in the territory. Morocco annexed the phosphate-rich territory when Spain withdrew in 1975. Polisario supporters, backed by Algeria, proclaimed an independent republic.