Desert war in 5th year

Press, 28 February 1980, Page 8

Desert war in 5th year

NZPA-Reuter Algiers The war in the .Western Sahara, where Polisario guerrillas are fighting Morocco for independence, entered its ■ f fifth year yesterday with no military victory for either side in sight. Four years after Spain ceded its former colony to Morocco and Mauritania, the balance of power in the phosphate-rich desert region has changed dramatically. Mauritania, faced with the increasing toll the war was taking on its men and money, last August made peace with the Polisario and abandoned its part of the territory, . which Morocco promptly annexed.

Over the years, the Polii sario has grown into a disciplined, well-armed and efficient army able to shoot down such sophisticated planes as the French-made Mirage Fl that Morocco began using against it last year. Despite the continued conflict, the guerrillas have begun setting up State institutions in their camps in Western Algeria. The Polisario is backed by Algeria and Libya in its war of independence for the ununknown number of nomads living in the Western Sahara. Yesterday, the guerrillas celebrated with numerous foreign delegations the fourth anniversary of the Western Sahara Republic they proclaimed the day after Spain withdrew. The republic has been recognised by 35 countries so far.