Through her writings and statements, Kennedy has effectively become an advocate for the Polisario.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

Since then he has been calling on the Group of Friends of Western Sahara, consisting of Britain, France, Russia, Spain and the United States, to stop the stumbling talks between Morocco and Polisario from breaking down altogether.

ECONOMIST: Diplomacy over Western Sahara: Morocco v Algeria | The

Mr Ross wants Algeria's government, Polisario's main backer, to become a fully-fledged party to the talks, but it has refused so far to join in, saying that only Polisario can speak for the Western Saharans.

ECONOMIST: Diplomacy over Western Sahara: Morocco v Algeria | The

In 1976, in the Western Sahara, the Polisario Front proclaimed the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic.

CNN: Friday,

The only one of these that might fall into place is Western Sahara, where the energies of James Baker, a former American secretary of state, were engaged to get Morocco and Polisario to agree to a referendum next year.

ECONOMIST: The United Nations

But they faced a furious attack from the Polisario, the forces of the local Saharawi people.

BBC: News Online

Without them though observers believe that Morocco would lose the vote and that Polisario would win a resounding victory in favour of independence.

BBC: By Tim Judah in Tindouf, south-western Algeria

And as for the Polisario, they warn that this refurbishment deal comes at a dangerous time.

BBC: News Online

But Morocco and the Polisario Front, the independence movement, fight over who else has the right.

ECONOMIST: Western Sahara

When Morocco insisted on padding the electoral roll with 100, 000 suspect names, Polisario withdrew from the registration process altogether, putting the whole peace plan in jeopardy.

ECONOMIST: Western Sahara