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Tripoli, March 20: Tunisian officials have denied local media reports that an armed Libyan group attacked a Tunisian military unit on . . .[restrict]the Tunisian-Libyan border using heavy weaponry.
It was stated in the local Tunisian media and on the state-controlled Tunisian Press Agency that a patrol of the Tunisian army had been attacked by armed Libyans on Sunday in the Correnti region near Ben Guerdane on the Tunisian side of the border. The Tunisian unit was about to excavate trenches for a border barrier and was forced to withdraw leaving the Libyans to seize a bulldozer.
Rashid Bouhoula, from the Tunisian defense ministry, said that reports were incorrect. There had been no exchange of fire although Libyans had taken the bulldozer. He said it had been returned to Tunisian army following lengthy negotiations with the Libyan authorities.
The Correnti region is said to be one of the main areas of smuggling between the two countries, particularly of fuel. The Tunisian army has stepped up its presence in the area in recent weeks in an effort to crack down on the illicit trade which involves both Libyan and Tunisia groups.
The border has seen a number of clashes and other incidents in the past few months, many of which relate to smuggling.
On Saturday, it was reported in the Tunisian press that a border patrol in the El Ageul area, also near Ben Guerdane, was attacked by armed Libyan group in a 4X4 vehicle. Tunisian interior Ministry spokesman Hecham Meddeb confirmed the attack saying that three of the Tunisian patrolmen managed to flee but that a fourth had been captured along with the vehicle. He said that negotiations were taking place with the Libyan authorities to free him.
There has been no statement so far whether he has been freed. [/restrict]
