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Eight killed in Tunis as police raid militant cell | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Eight people, including one policeman, have been killed in a police raid on militants in Tunis. | |
The shooting started when police tried to storm a house in the seaside suburb of Raoued on Monday afternoon. | |
Tunisian security forces have fought a long campaign against Islamist militants over the last two years. | Tunisian security forces have fought a long campaign against Islamist militants over the last two years. |
The shootings come a week after Tunisia's parliament adopted a new constitution - its first since the revolution three years ago. | The shootings come a week after Tunisia's parliament adopted a new constitution - its first since the revolution three years ago. |
The siege ended in dramatic style on Tuesday afternoon as special units from the National Guard stormed the house. | |
The Tunisian news agency TAP named the policeman who was killed as Atef Jebri, a 29-year-old corporal in the specialist unit in the National Guard. | |
One militant was arrested by police, TAP reported. | |
Police said the men were heavily armed. | |
"They had suicide bomb belts and explosive material," interior ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui told the Reuters news agency. | |
Militant groups | |
More than 20 members of the Tunisian security forces were killed last year during operations against Islamist militants in the west of the country. | |
Analysts say politicians hope the new constitution will send out a message of stability after months of deadlock between Islamist and secular parties. | |
Ennahda, a moderate Islamist party, won the first democratic elections after long-time ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was forced from power in 2011. | Ennahda, a moderate Islamist party, won the first democratic elections after long-time ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was forced from power in 2011. |
But it has faced fierce opposition from secular groups, who have accused it being too close to militant groups - charges it strongly denies. | But it has faced fierce opposition from secular groups, who have accused it being too close to militant groups - charges it strongly denies. |
The killing of two secular politicians last year was blamed on militant groups and sparked a political crisis in Tunisia. | The killing of two secular politicians last year was blamed on militant groups and sparked a political crisis in Tunisia. |
Earlier this month, Ennahda Prime Minister Ali Larayedh stepped down and was replaced by Mehdi Jomaa, who heads the newly-appointed caretaker government. | Earlier this month, Ennahda Prime Minister Ali Larayedh stepped down and was replaced by Mehdi Jomaa, who heads the newly-appointed caretaker government. |