Tunisia Closes Libya Border for Election
Tunisia, fearing possible terrorist attacks, will close its border with politically unstable Libya for three days to coincide with this weekend's parliamentary election, the government said Thursday.
The Ras Jedir and Dehiba border crossings would be closed from Friday through election day Sunday for people travelling from Libya, except for diplomatic missions and in "exceptional and urgent cases," a statement said.
However, people wishing to travel to Libya from Tunisia would be allowed to do so.
Tunisian Interior Minister Lofti Ben Jeddou has expressed fears that "terrorist acts" might be carried out during the elections.
Libya has been wracked by violence since the overthrow of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi three years ago, and Tunisian authorities frequently seize arms and contraband being smuggled across the border.
On Thursday, a policeman was killed outside the capital in a gunbattle with a group described as terrorists.
Source: Agence France Presse
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