A large delegation composed of petitioners from around the world is in New York to "reiterate its support to the Moroccan autonomy initiative" for the Sahara, during debates on this issue started as part of the United Nations General Assembly Fourth Committee.

Both Congressional leaders Republican Lincoln Diaz-Balart, and Rep. Jim Moran sent a letter to the American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton requesting US action to secure the immediate release of Mustapha Salma Ould Sidi Mouloud, the outspoken Sahraoui police chief arrested by the Polisario Front last week as he tried to return to Tindouf refugee camps to rejoin his wife and children.

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), a group of several international human rights NGOs, voiced, on Thursday, its "deep concern" over the "arbitrary detention" of Mustafa Salma Ould Sidi Mouloud by the polisario's militiamen.

HM King Mohammed VI called, on Monday, upon other partners to seize the historic opportunity of the autonomy initiative and "engage in substantive negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, to whom we reiterate our sincere willingness to cooperate."

The arrest of Mr. Mustapha Salma by the Polisario Front is a reckless reaction, largely excepted from Polisario’s political system, which occurs after the positive stance taken by Mr Ould Sidi Mouloud in favour of granting the Moroccan autonomy initiative to the inhabitants of the Sahara region.