Europeans involved in armed incidents along Libyan-Tunisian border

Tunisian authorities have stopped more than 20 armed Europeans attempting to cross into the country from neighbouring Libya.

Tunisian Defence Minister Abdelkareem Zubaidi revealed an armed group consisting of 13 French nationals attempted to cross the border in 4×4 vehicles with diplomatic license plates at the Ras Jedir crossing on Sunday.

The French embassy in Tunis said the individuals were members of a security detail attached to the French diplomatic mission in Libya. It said the stop at the border was routine, and after an inventory of equipment, the detachment continued on its route. But sources familiar with the Libyan situation doubted the French version of events.

In a separate incident, Zubaidi said 11 people of different European nationalities had recently tried to enter Tunisian waters from Libya in two rubber life boats but were intercepted by the Tunisian navy.

Via Al Jazeera