By Saber Ayyub and Ajnadin Mustafa.
Tripoli, 21 July 2015:
The Tunisian-Libyan border crossing at Ras Jadir was again open today after being . . .[restrict]closed yesterday on the Libyan side because of protests in the nearby Tunisian town of Ben Guerdane.
Demonstrators there had blocked the main road with salt, angry at the Tunisian government’s construction of a fence and trench along the border.
The barrier is perceived by the Tunisian authorities as a useful tool in preventing arms and terrorists from Libya crossing into Tunisia.
The Ben Guerdane protestors, however, say that it will damage the local economy, a complaint repeated by local trades unions.
In fact, much of the local economy is based on cross-border smuggling, which would be hit by the barrier. [/restrict]
