Armed Libyans hijack Tunisian border patrol

TUNIS - A Tunisian border patrol was hijacked on Saturday afternoon by an armed Libyan group in the governorate of Ben Guerdane, Tunisia's southern gateway to Libya, the state- run press agency TAP reported on Sunday.

The Libyan group, traveling onboard four-wheel drive vehicles, hijacked the four-men Tunisian patrol and attempted to re-route it towards the Libyan territory, a Tunisian interior ministry spokesman said, adding that three of the Tunisian border guards managed to escape while the fourth was hijacked along with the vehicle and the weapons they carried.

Following the incident, Tunisia's interior minister spoke with the Libyan authorities to free the abducted officer, stressing that the incident which occurred two days prior to the visit by Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki to Libya, "might give the impression that some parties are attempting to trouble the serenity of bilateral relations," TAP reported.

The minister also said that such acts "will not affect the brotherly relations between the two countries."

During the past months, armed Libyans have crossed Tunisia- Libya border several times, which prompted Tunisian authorities to close Ras El Jedir, the main border crossing last month. It was reopened after Libya sent in professional border guards and customs officers.