"We call upon the parties to continue the negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary- General," Crowley said in a statement.

    The US reiterated its "full support for the UNSG and his Personal Envoy, Ambassador Christopher Ross, in their efforts to reach a mutually-agreed solution," the statement added.

    This informal meeting will be held in the presence of Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the polisario in preparation for the fifth round of negotiations aiming to find a political and final solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

    The meeting is part of the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions 1813 (2008) and 1871 (2009) which call upon the parties to enter into a phase of intense and substantial negotiations, taking account of the efforts made by Morocco since 2006 and showing realism and a spirit of compromise.