3 police injured in bomb attack in Laayoune 30 June. U.S. backed Rabat’s proposal for limited WS autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty in UN Security Council meeting 11 July. UNSC statement reaffirmed 30 April resolution, did not mention autonomy or independence.

UN-brokered talks in New York between Moroccan government and Polisario Front 18-19 June, first direct negotiations in 7 years, ended in continued stalemate. Parties agreed to meet in August.

Police clashed with students in Moroccan capital Rabat staging sit-in for independence in Western Sahara 17 May amid reports of student-police clashes and arrests in other towns. 7 Marrakech University students given 8-12 month sentences 25 May.

Moroccan government and Polisario Front presented peace plans to UN early April: Morocco plan rules out independence but proposes autonomy and local powers; Polisario plan calls for vote on self determination but offers possibility of cooperation with Morocco. Both plans declare willingness to hold direct talks. UNSC supported moves, requested UNSG to set up negotiations under his auspices, and extended UN Mission in Western Sahara to 31 October. Saharawi activist reportedly arrested and beaten by Moroccan police in El Aaiún 17 April.

Arrests of Saharawi independence activists continued while Moroccan delegation briefed European officials on “negotiated autonomy” plan. Moroccan police violently suppressed unarmed protest by Saharawi students outside Qadi Ayad University in Marrakech 15 March, injuring 10. El Aaiún appeals court sentenced 8 political detainees to prison 20 March. Mandate of UN mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara to expire 30 April.

Moroccan government briefed U.S. and European officials on “negotiated autonomy” plan Rabat aims to present to UN Security Council in April; plan rejected by Polisario Front. UN SG Ban Ki-moon appointed British diplomat Julian Harston SRSG and head of UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara 1 February.

Series of landmine blasts killed mayor of Gueltet Zemmour, parliamentarian Mohamed Laroussi and child. Moroccan officials dismissed media speculation that blasts signalled Polisario Front’s ending of 16-year UN ceasefire.

Moroccan advisory council issued plan for Western Saharan autonomy, rejecting possibility of independence.

UNSC extended MINURSO mission to April 2007; UNSG Annan report warned of possible outbreak of violence and called on both sides to undertake talks without preconditions. Morocco denounced UN criticism of alleged human rights abuses in Western Sahara as biased.

Controversial EU-Morocco fisheries deal gave EU boats access to disputed Western Saharan waters; some EU members previously objected move might endorse Moroccan claims to water and violate international law.