Updated

RABAT, Morocco-- The Moroccan Interior Ministry says two terrorist cells with links to Al Qaeda have been dismantled and their members detained.

In a statement Saturday, the ministry said the cells were made up of nine people, including a Yemeni national who's sought by that country and two people who'd already been convicted on terror charges.

One of the cells, called the "Front of the Saharawi Jihad," supported independence for the disputed Western Sahara territory and was plotting terrorist acts, the statement said.

The other was aimed at recruiting extremists to send to Iraq and was apparently in contact with groups in Al Qaeda's network, the statement said.

It did not give other details.