============================== WESTERN SAHARA ============================== Western Sahara is a former Spanish possession (and the province of Spanish Sahara from 1960) occupying the desert lands between Mauritania and the Atlantic coast. Rich in phosphates - it has the world's largest known deposits of phosphate rock - the country has since the mid- 1970s been annexed by Morocco. After years of bitter fighting, Morocco controls the main urban areas, but the Polisario Front's guerrillas move freely in the vast, sparsely populated deserts. The two sides signed a cease- fire agreement in 1990. The UN will conduct a referendum in Western Sahara on whether the territory should become independent or remain part of Morocco. Area (Sq. Km.): 266,000 Population: 178,000 Capital: El Aaiun Language: Arabic Berber Religion: Moslem Government Type: In dispute Currency: Dirham Embassy: Represented by Morocco «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Foreign Office Advice: The territory of the Western Sahara is disputed between Morocco and the Polisario Front, and the Foreign Office advises against travel there. The UK regards sovereignty as undetermined. Consular service is not available. The area south of Tan Tan is under military jurisdiction. Travel is restricted. Overland travellers may be turned back at Dakhla. For more information ring: Foreign Office Travel Unit 0171-270-4129