RABAT, April 17 -- The Moroccan navy rescued 131 sub-Saharan migrants bound for Spain's Canary Islands on Wednesday off the Atlantic coast, the official news agency MAP reported.

Two boats carrying these migrants were "in difficulty" when they were intercepted by Moroccan navy patrol boats during two separate operations 50 km northeast of the town of Laayoune, the report said.

Laayoune is the largest city in the disputed territory of Western Sahara, most of which is currently under the control of Morocco.

The migrants, including 27 women and eight minors, were all rescued and taken aboard the Moroccan navy ship, according to a press release from the Moroccan Armed Forces.

  - Xinhua