Morocco urges coordination vs. al-Qaida

RABAT, Morocco, May 20 (UPI) -- Police and legal agencies need a coordinated international effort to fight the rising influence of al-Qaida in organized crime, Moroccan officials said Tuesday.

"There is a new and complex dimension that the anti-terror fight has taken, due to the interconnectedness (with) organized crime, whether arms, drugs, or human trafficking," Moroccan Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi said.

Moroccan Justice Minister Abdul Wahad Radi said his country wanted to encourage such "interconnectedness" across Africa and the international community in order to launch an effective campaign against al-Qaida, Med Basin Newsline said.

Spain has already complied, agreeing Friday to hand over two Moroccans believed linked to linked to al-Qaida.