Western Sahara, a Spanish colony until 1975, is largely controlled by Morocco but is considered a non-self-governing territory by the UN. (AFP pic)UNITED NATIONS: The mandate of the UN peacekeepers in Western Sahara is set to expire on Saturday after Russia and the United States vetoed each other's draft resolutions on extending the mission.
The peacekeeping force, known as Minurso, was established in 1991 and as of June this year comprised 359 civilian and military personnel, according to its website.
The Western Sahara conflict has pitted Morocco against Polisario Front separatists, backed by Algeria, for 50 years.
The US had put forward a text, supported by 11 of the 15 UN Security Council members, to extend the mission for one year. It would have put a Moroccan autonomy plan at the center of efforts to settle the conflict.
