April 11 (Reuters) - Morocco unveiled an autonomy blueprint for Western Sahara to the United Nations on Wednesday. Here are some key facts on Western Sahara: * WHAT IS THE DISPUTE? -- Morocco seized Western Sahara after it gained independence from Spain in 1975 and waged a low-intensity guerrilla war with the Polisario Front until the United Nations brokered a ceasefire in 1991. The U.N.-mediated ceasefire came with the promise of a referendum but Morocco has refused to allow a vote. -- The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), declared by independence movement Polisario in 1976, is now recognised by many governments and is a full member of the African Union. * WHO ARE THE PLAYERS IN THE DISPUTE? MOROCCO: -- Morocco believes it has the diplomatic clout to settle Africa's oldest territorial dispute on its terms. Morocco has claimed centuries-old rights over the territory rich in phosphates, fisheries and possibly offshore oil. -- Having annexed the former Spanish colony, Rabat now says autonomy is the most it will offer. Rabat insists its autonomy plan is steeped in democratic values and investor-friendly liberal economics. POLISARIO: -- Western Sahara's independence movement Polisario has ample support in Africa, where many countries tend to see the territory as the continent's last colony. -- Exactly a year ago, Polisario rejected a U.N. call for direct talks with Rabat on a promised vote on independence or to remain part of Morocco. They said the talks were a sharp departure from the existing 1991 U.N. agreement which promised residents the chance to vote in a referendum on independence. A vote has never taken place. -- Polisario presented its own peace plan at the United Nations on Tuesday. It did not disclose details but said the proposal was flexible and open to cooperation with Morocco. FRANCE: -- France is a close ally of Morocco but denies any partiality in Morocco's dispute with Polisario. Morocco sees France as the main supporter for an autonomy proposal. -- At the end of October 2006, the U.N. Security Council voted to keep peacekeepers in Western Sahara for six more months but shunned a plea that Morocco do more to safeguard human rights in the territory after France objected and won over several other governments. ALGERIA: -- Rabat's vision of autonomy is opposed by Polisario's main backer Algeria, where Polisario has its headquarters. Thousands of Sahrawi refugees also live in camps in the Algerian desert.
