"The Sahara is near" was the theme of the first international summer camp in the southern provinces held until August 13, 20 km from laayoune, at the initiative of the Moroccan Alternatives Forum and the Spanish Catholic scouts.

The United States has shown "unequivocal support" for the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Peter van Walsum, deeming "impartial" and "realistic" his efforts to settle the Sahara issue, said a U.S. diplomatic source quoted Tuesday by the Moroccan daily "Aujourd'hui le Maroc".

Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister, Zaïnab Bangura, reaffirmed, here Monday, her country's support for Morocco's proposal to grant substantial autonomy to the Sahara region.

Saharan tribal elders confirmed permanent mobilization behind His Majesty King Mohammed VI and continuing endeavour for the preservation of the Kingdom’s territorial unity and the defence of national shrines.

Malian journalists, currently visiting the province of Laayoune, welcomed the "impressive" efforts carried out for the development of southern provinces and improvement of the quality of life of local populations, while welcoming the Moroccan autonomy initiative proposed by the Kingdom for the final settlement of the Sahara.