Two women suspected of al Qaeda links held

Morocco has arrested the wives of two Saudi men being held on suspicion of plotting "terrorist attacks" on US and British ships in the Straits of Gibraltar, a top security official said yesterday.

The two women, arrested on Monday, were being interrogated with their husbands and a third Saudi national for possible "criminal acts", said the official, who declined to be identified.

"The two young women were apparently married to Saudi nationals preparing terrorist attacks in the Mediterranean... They were aware of what the men were doing," the official said without giving their names and ages.

The women were allegedly used as couriers between al Qaeda, the Islamic group which Washington holds responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States, and its members in Morocco, the official said.

Late on Monday a senior government official said three Saudi men aged between 25 and 35 were arrested and accused of preparing "terrorist" attacks on Nato targets, including US and British warships.

A Western diplomat said the Moroccans had been aware of the al Qaeda plans "for some time" and that they were in "the early stages" when the men were arrested.

An Arab diplomat said a police investigation was under way for several weeks and the arrests took place while the group was trying to leave the country from Casablanca airport.

"The group was apparently ready for action," the diplomat said without elaboration.

The group members were moving freely between Casablanca, Rabat and its twin city Sale, he said.

But it was not known whether any explosives and other material were seized by security forces when the arrests took place.

A Justice Ministry official said the five accused were expected to appear before the court of justice by early next week at the latest.

No photos or videotapes showing the accused men and women were immediately available.