Larayedh assures nation after supervising security meeting

Tunisia's interim Prime Minister Ali Larayedh Tunisia's interim Prime Minister Ali Larayedh has reassured the nation that the security situation is improving, and authorised the deployment of security units along the borders. Larayedh supervised the National Security Council's periodical meeting in Tunis on Tuesday, alongside Interior Minister Lotfi Ben Jeddou, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Noureddine Bhiri, Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi, Justice Minister Nadhir Ben Ammou, Chief of Staff Rachid Ammar and senior security officials.
The caretaker PM claimed that the national security situation in Tunisia had improved significantly due to citizens' awareness. He praised security personnel and Tunisia's military, adding that the most important thing for Tunisians is to realise that "their power lies in their unity," and that of all the Arab states which underwent revolutions during the so-called Arab spring, "Tunisia is the best country in terms of success in the democratic transformation despite all difficulties."
Larayedh explained the importance of the security council meetings, adding that their significance has increased down the years due to major developments in the region.
Meanwhile, international non-governmental organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on French President Francois Hollande to take Tunisia to task over its human rights violations, denouncing the imprisonment of a rap artist and activists from the Ukrainian organisation Femen.
Hollande is expected to make a 2-day state visit to Tunisia from Thursday after accepting the invitation of his counterpart Moncef Marzouki.
In a statement, HRW said France must use its leverage as a key trading partner and ally to press Tunisia to protect freedom of expression, stressing that "No one should be prosecuted for peacefully voicing political, religious, or cultural dissent in Tunisia’s new era."
The international human rights organisation criticised the court decisions to imprison activists of the feminist Ukrainian group Femen following their topless protest outside the main courthouse in Tunis. It also condemned the two-year prison sentence handed down to rapper Alaa Eddine Yaakoubi, better known as Oueld El 15 (The 15-year-old boy), for insulting the police, and defamation of public officials. On appeal, the sentence was reduced to a six-month suspended jail term.
HRW has previously criticised the Tunisian draft constitution over its "baggy wording" of the restrictions allowed over the freedom of speech. Tunisian observers see the HRW's plea to Hollande as a way of interfering in Tunisia's internal affairs.
Member of the National Constituent Council office, Samira Marei, said that a parliamentary session will be held on July 5 during which Francois Hollande will make a speech. The Tunisian presidency said that a number of cooperation agreements and protocols will be signed during Hollande's visit.