WASHINGTON (AFP) -
The
US government is warning its citizens to avoid visiting southeastern
Tunisia near the Libyan border as well as the country's mountainous
western areas due to "the threat of terrorism."
In a travel
warning out Friday, the State Department warns that Islamic State group
jihadists have targeted Tunisian security officials, tourists and
civilians in the regions.
The warning urges US citizens to
"exercise caution" in Tunisia "when frequenting public venues,"
especially tourist sites, and to avoid political gatherings, "rallies,
large crowds and demonstrations, as even demonstrations that are meant
to be peaceful can be unpredictable."
Tunisia, the birthplace of
the Arab Spring, has suffered from jihadist violence since the 2011
revolution that ousted longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
A raid on the Libyan frontier town of Ben Guerdane, blamed on the IS group, killed 20 people in March.
Last
year IS claimed responsibility for attacks on the Bardo museum in Tunis
and a popular resort hotel, killing 59 tourists in total, as well as a
suicide bombing that killed 12 presidential guards.
The government
recently extended by three months a state of emergency imposed
following jihadist attacks, while the United States announced a
$24.9-million (22-million-euro) project to install an electronic
surveillance system on Tunisia's border with Libya.
© 2016 AFP
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