Tunisia to discuss combating terrorism

The Tunisian Assembly is to hold a public session on Wednesday to discuss the recent terrorist attacks in Ash-Sha'nabi. The attacks injured elements of the Tunisian military as four landmines exploded during Tunisian forces attempts to arrest terrorist factions related to al-Qaeda. The Tunisian Interior Ministry said on Tuesday that the terrorist attacks were carried out by the Uqba Ibn Nafi battalion, and that the battalion is affiliated to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Countries, adding that they have been involved in a number of terrorist attacks witnessed in Tunisia. Spokesperson of Tunisia’s Interior Ministry Mohamed Ali el-Arawy clarified that there around an estimated 20 known Algerian and Tunisian terrorists in the area. Arawy also said that Tunisian security forces had managed to prevent a number of terrorist plans aimed at undermining the security and stability of the country. He added that the security forces had managed to take control of large amounts of weapons in the Tunisian province of Ben-Arous, near to the Tunisian capital. A large number of Tunisian politicians and observers have expressed their anxiety over the spread of weapons in Tunisia since the departure of the former Libyan regime. They warned that such trends could pave the way for making Tunisia a base for terrorist activities.