LOC23:31
20:31 GMT
TUNIS, Aug 6 (KUNA) -- Tunisian Minister of the Interior Lotfi Ben Jeddou
reiterated Tuesday the police and army's determination to eradicate the
terrorism from the country.
"The military and security operations will continue until all terrorists
holed up in the mountain will be extirpated," Ben Jeddou said at the first
plenary session of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) after the
assassination of Deputy Mohamed Brahim last July 25.
The session was intended to debate with the government the security
situation in the country, Tunisia News Agency (TAP) reported.
The Interior Minister estimated for the first time the number of terrorists
in Mount Chaambi belonging to the Uqbah Ibn Nafaa brigade at 140 of whom 46
have been arrested by security forces.
He urged all Tunisians to "support the army and national security forces in
the fight against terrorism, until it is uprooted from the country."
The minister said the existence of links between the murderers of late MPs
Brahmi and Shukri Belaid was established by investigators, whether individuals
involved in the two crimes or their links with the weapons storage depots
discovered in Medenine and Mnihla.
He, however, admitted "a certain operational failure" reflected in the
failure to arrest all individuals involved in the double murder whom he called
"professionals."
"We will soon compensate for this failure by a massive mobilization of
agents to capture these terrorists, now that we have formally identified all
the members of the group involved in both assassinations, six of whom have
already been arrested," he stressed.
For his part, Minister of National Defense Rachid Sabbagh called the
relations between Tunisia and Algeria in countering terrorism "very strong,"
indicating that co-operation between the two countries has been strengthened
to eliminate this risk.
"Nearly 7,000 military and law enforcement personnel have been deployed in
the border between Algeria and Tunisia," he specified.
"Efforts to combat terrorists in Chaambi have intensified through the use
of helicopters and artillery to pound the places they are hiding in," he said,
adding that air operations will continue as long as necessary until the army
manages to neutralize terrorists either by arresting or eliminating them.
The Minister of Defence blamed the loss of 13 military mainly to the
inadequate equipment of the army.
He, however, praised the military institution "for the efforts it has been
making to maintain order and protect public institutions and private property
since the beginning of the Tunisian Revolution."
Meanwhile, the Interim Prime Minister Ali Larayedh said at the NCA session
that "the increased protests and other rallies that require protection from
the army and security forces are a kind of waste of the efforts of both
institutions and force them to be where they should not, instead of being in
places where terrorists are."
Larayedh warned against the risks of the "approach that threatens to push
the country to the deterioration of the political and social situation, for
whatever partisan or ideological reasons."
The prime minister urged withdrawing deputies to resume their activities in
the Constituent Assembly as well as in spaces of dialogue.
"Even though they lagged behind, they have nevertheless produced a draft
constitution," he said, adding that the law on the provisional organization of
public authorities gives deputies the flexibility to influence government
policies or change the government.
According to him, the predominance of politics has made the role of
parties, organizations and associations limited in matters of fight against
terrorism, calling on them to seek "workable compromises" and not to confine
themselves to criticizing and protesting.
Larayedh also called on political parties and organizations to strengthen
national cohesion and unity and work for the establishment of a peaceful
social climate, considering that the current stage requires preserving the
progress already made in the transition process.
He also reiterated the importance of ensuring the permanence of dialogue
and consultation to validly analyse the situation and seek solutions.
"We are moving towards the establishment of an advisory council tasked with
evaluating, discussing and proposing orientations on key national political
and security issues, in addition to the formation of a national commission
responsible for the fight against terrorism in which will be integrated the
educational, cultural, security and social dimensions, he announced.
The PM also said the law on terrorism is still in force pending its
amendment, adding that its application is surrounded by guarantees for fair
trial and respect for human rights.
According to Larayedh, political concord and social peace can only increase
chances of success of fight against terrorism.
He presented, in the same vein, a six-point anti-terrorism plan related to
security, legal, religious, cultural and media aspects, plus the role of
parties and co-operation with other countries.
"Attacking the security apparatus and the army, whether their respective
institutions, their hierarchies or their staffs equal attacking the nation and
the revolution," he also indicated.
The interim PM stressed the importance of the role of the ministries of
defense and the interior in thwarting plans and dismantling terrorist cells
and also in ensuring fair trial and respect for human rights.
Larayedh added the Ministry of Religious Affairs is working actively to
control the 5,000 mosques in the country, saying that the number of mosques
beyond control is nearly one hundred in 2013, while their number was about 2,
000 in 2012.
On a related development, President of the National Constituent Assembly
(NCA) Mustapha Ben Jaafar called on deputies who have withdrawn from the
assembly to join their colleagues, saying "there is no other way than dialogue
and consensus to overcome the crisis."
"We are facing a difficult situation and a dangerous turning point six
months after the first political assassination that could have destabilized
the country," stressed Ben Jaafar.
He considered that the NCA rests on firm foundations that cannot be
challenged by those who reject the results of the October 23 elections.
He also expressed his full support to wounded soldiers defending the
national flag. (end)
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KUNA 062331 Aug 13NNNN