Rival US and Russian drafts on the Western Sahara mission both fail at the UN

Russia vetoed the US-backed draft on Friday, although 11 of the 15 council members supported it. A rival Russian draft then failed to win the nine votes it needed.

The US draft would have extended the mission for a year, dropped "referendum" from its name and made Morocco's autonomy proposal the only basis for talks. Russia's ambassador said it favoured one side, and Moscow proposed renewing the mission unchanged.

Background

The UN set up the mission in 1991 to monitor a ceasefire and prepare a referendum, which disagreements over who could vote have prevented. Morocco considers the territory its own, while the Polisario Front seeks an independent Sahrawi Republic.

Western Sahara

The mission's mandate is due to expire on Saturday, Oct 31, unless the council reaches a last-minute agreement. Morocco's royal palace said UN personnel and equipment should leave the territory.