Moroccan-Saudi coordination in al-Qaeda cell dismantling, minister

The Saudi deputy interior minister on Wednesday said his country coordinated with Morocco in the arrest recently in the North African country of three Saudi nationals, alleged members of a dormant cell of Al-Qaeda.

The Saudi authorities were informed of the arrest of the three suspects who hold Saudi passports, Prince Ahmed Ben Abdel Aziz, told the press in Jeddah.

The official said he could not confirm that the suspects were Saudis before knowing the results of the investigation conducted by the Moroccan authorities.

"A joint investigation is being conducted with the Moroccan brethrens and we hope to reach positive results," he said.

The Moroccan ministry of the interior announced on Tuesday that security services arrested the members of the al-Qaeda cell who were preparing terrorist acts inside the country and other operations from the two Spanish-ruled cities of Sebta and Melilia against western ships crossing the Gibraltar strait.

The sources said the cell three members who were arrested hold Saudi passports. They are Hilal Jaber Alassiri, Zuher Hilal Mohamed Al Tbaiti and Abdallah M'Sefer Ali Al-Ghamdi.

The source says the arrest, part of Morocco's commitment to fight international terrorism, is the result of a watchful, dynamic and efficient cooperation in security matters with foreign services, including Saudi and American ones.