Return to Calm Along Tunisian-Libyan Borders

The Ministry of Defense — represented by Major Colonel Mokhtar Ben Nasser — affirmed during the 26th meeting of the Prime Minister’s Communication Unit that calm has returned to the Tunisian-Libyan borders now that the Libyan rebels control the Ras Jdir border.

Mokhtar Ben Nasser also asserted that military units based at the borders have been reinforced, and that the 29 checkpoints recently erected helped in the arrest of a group of armed Libyans on August 29th. At the same time, the number of Libyan refugees increased to reach 10,000 on September 2nd and 11,000 on September 5th.

In terms of internal security, the Major Colonel brought up the intervention of armed forces in several skirmishes that erupted recently in Sbeitla, Douz and Jebeniana. He declared that these troubles begin with simple arguments between locals and develop into larger struggles that involve weapons.  For instance, what began as a small skirmish in Douz led to 54 inhabitants getting involved.  The Major Colonel also touched upon the Army’s efforts to secure local jails, harvests, forest fires, and polling centers.

At the same meeting, the Justice Ministry — represented by Kadhem Zinelabidine — declared that Ben Ali, two of his former interior ministers, and several previous heads of security will have their cases transferred to the court on September 15th, as there is now enough proof to charge the accused persons.  Another case mentioned by Kadhem Zinelabidine concerns a transaction with a foreign company, in which the former President and his Environment Minister are involved. Concerning the “Carthage Airport Case,” a representative from the Ministry of Justice declared that the case will be transferred to the Court of Appeals on September 19th.

Source:  Webmanagercenter