Tunisian armed and security forces on high alert due to deteriorating situation in Libya
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed said on Tuesday that his country's armed and security forces were on high alert to monitor the situation in neighbouring Libya and prepare for the possibility of an influx of refugees fleeing the ongoing fighting in that country.
During a visit to the headquarters of the El Gorjani Judicial Police Directorate in Tunis, Mr. Chahed announced that a small ministerial council will be held shortly to address the situation on Tunisia's borders.
He hailed the high availability of Tunisian forces, which he urged to be vigilant to ensure the protection of the national territory.
The Tunisian official's visit to the building that houses units of the judicial police follows the seizure by security forces of 35 assault rifles and large sums of money during a preventive operation in the southern Médenine region bordering Libya.
In a statement to the press, he said the seized weapons were intended for operations against sensitive sites in Tunisia.
"We wanted to be with you to welcome this security success and encourage you to be continually vigilant despite the difficult situation in the country," he told the security units.
On Monday, the President of the Tunisian Red Crescent (CRT) in Médenine, Mongi Slim, reported a mobilization of the authorities, civil society and relevant international organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), to deal with different scenarios that may result from the deteriorating situation in Libya, in relation to the influx of refugees and migrants.
-0- PANA BB/JSG/BBA/AR 7Jan2020
