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Tunisia May Close Border to Libyan Refugees

Tunisia May Close Border to Libyan Refugees

From Capital FM via Agence France Presse

Tunisia cannot cope with any massive influx of refugees who might seek to enter the country from strife torn neighbouring Libya and will close its border if necessary, the foreign minister said Wednesday.

“Our country’s economic situation is precarious, and we cannot cope with hundreds of thousands of refugees,” as was the case during the 2011 revolution that ousted Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi, Mongi Hamdi told a press conference.

“We will close the border if the national interest requires it,” he added.

Libya has suffered from chronic insecurity since Kadhafi’s ouster, with the new government unable to rein in the militias that helped to overthrow him and facing a growing threat from Islamist groups.

Scores of people have been killed in recent days in fighting for control of the capital’s international airport, knocked out of commission by the violence, and in the restive eastern city of Benghazi.

The capital Tripoli has also been hit by fierce fighting between rival militias since mid July, and a rocket fired in the fighting ignited a fuel depot, which is still blazing.

Read more at Capital FM