would resume Dec. 1 of this year.

A transitional period leading to the vote could start on June 7 ``and would end with the proclamation of the results of the referendum which could be held on Dec. 7, 1998,'' he said.

Annan stressed that his plan and timetable were based on a best-case scenario and that unless all essential conditions were met, ``it will not be possible to hold the referendum before the end of 1998, if at all.''

``In this connection, I count especially on the full cooperation of the government of Morocco and the Frente Polisario leadership with respect to all aspects of the plan,'' he said.

This included the resumption and completion of the voter identification process; maintenance of the ceasefire and the reduction and confinement of troops; the release of prisoners of war and Saharan political detainees; the voluntary repatriation of all Saharans eligible to vote and their immediate families; and the facilitation of the referendum campaign, set for Nov. 16, 1998 to Dec. 6.

Annan said the 1,850-strong military component of MINURSO should comprise 550 military observers, an 800-strong troop battalion, a 130 member communications company, a 50-member medical unit, 40 military police, a logistics company of 130 and a 150-member engineering company.

In addition, existing small contingents of civilian police and civilian
staff would be increased to 400 and 384, respectively.

Copyright 1997 Reuters Limited.All rights reserved.

Reuters

15-NOV-97
By Anthony Goodman

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Secretary-General Kofi Annan proposed Friday that a long-delayed referendum to decide the future of Western Sahara should be held Dec. 7, 1998 and recommended a substantial increase in the U.N. force in the territory to include 1,850 troops and observers.

The military component of the U.N. Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) now numbers only about 200 observers and 20 medical and other support troops.

The referendum, the high point of a U.N. peace plan for Western Sahara, was originally set for January 1992 to decide whether it should be incorporated into Morocco, which controls most of the former Spanish colony, or become independent, as sought by the Polisario Front.

A ceasefire halting a guerrilla war between Morocco and Polisario went into force in September 1991 but the referendum was repeatedly postponed because of differences over who should be eligible to vote.

These obstacles appear to have been overcome after efforts in recent months by Annan's personal envoy for Western Sahara, former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker.

According to a timetable proposed by Annan, voter identification