Clashes between Police, ’Terrorists’ Continue Near Tunisia’s Capital

Local Editor

Civilians were caught up in a police siege near the Tunisian capital of Tunis on Friday, with suspected "terrorists" killing one officer in a firefight, ahead of elections that have sparked fears of extremist attacks.

The confrontation at a home near Tunis erupted on Thursday as security was tightened in the lead-up to Sunday's parliamentary vote, the first since the nation's 2011uprising.

At least two women and two children were inside the house in the town of Oued Ellil where a group was exchanging gunfire with security forces, the Tunisian interior ministry said.

"There are two children, that's why we haven't launched an assault but there will be an assault in the hours to come," ministry spokesman Mohammed Ali Aroui said.

The government said the gunmen were using the women and children as "human shields", and Aroui said one of the women was the wife of one of the militants.

Authorities have demanded that the children and women be allowed to leave the house and the police, using loudspeakers, also told the gunmen - who they described as "terrorists" - to surrender.

"We also have information on the presence of explosives," he added.

Police have been besieging the house for hours and gunfire exchanges could be heard intermittently late into the evening.

One policeman was killed in the firefight and another one was wounded.

"Our agent died of a bullet wound in the eye sustained in clashes with a terrorist group," a police official said at the scene.

Sunday's election is seen as crucial to restoring stability in the country and the government has ordered the deployment of tens of thousands of soldiers and police for polling day.

Since the 2011 uprising that ousted veteran dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia has seen a proliferation of extremists suppressed under the former autocratic president and the emergence of militant groups.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team