Tunis - Azhar Jarboui
Tunisian border guards have arrested two Libyan gunmen who crossed the border between the two countries and fired on a Tunisian security centre.
Security sources told Arabstoday that the men were armed, dressed in military uniform and driving a 4x4 vehicle. The duo opened fire on a Tunisian security centre in Ben Guerdane, close to the border zone, forcing border guards to retaliate before capture.
Tunisian-Libyan borders have witnessed tight security and military reinforcements since Thursday, amid fear of possible terrorist attacks after the French military intervention in Mali.
Meanwhile, there was a heavy security presence outside the French embassy in Tunis on Friday morning, with counter-terrorism forces patrolling streets leading up to the embassy. The streets around the embassy were closed, and the entire embassy building was surrounded by barbed wire.
The French embassy has urged its nationals in Tunisia to be careful and cautious in Tunisia and not to visit the southern desert areas due to fears of being kidnapped.