Tunisia fired Libyan rebels from border

Groups of Libyan rebels who took arms and toppled Muammar Gadhafi from power were summoned on Saturday to stay away from Tunisia border after Tunisians complained on attacks on them.

“A meeting was held by Libyan border with officials and it was decided to ask rebels to move back two kilometres from the Ras Jdir border point” said Colonel Mohamed Jarafa, a border official.

The measure came a day after Tunisia closed a second border post in Dehiba following allegations of attacks on Tunisians just inside the Libyan border.

The Ras Jdir crossing point, 180 kilometres west of Tripoli, closed on Wednesday when Tunisian guards stopped work in protest at what they called a lack of protection against armed and unarmed Libyans.

A Tunisian customs officer is said to be wounded after a Libyan gun-attacked him when forcing to across the border.

Such incidents have led to lengthy delays at the Ras Jdir border, with the queue sometimes stretching to kilometres

Colonel Jarafa did not deny the incidents but played them down. “Some rebels are unaware of the consequences of their actions,” Jarafa said.

Tunisian authorities have repeatedly complained of the presence of many armed Libyans fighters around the coastal border post.

On Thursday, Tunis raised its deep concern at the border incidents and called on Tripoli to manage its side of the crossing with professional security forces.

Libyan border official Najmi Moamer said the former rebels had been helping man the borders for several months by checking passports and car registration documents.

The only traffic at the Ras Jdir crossing was Libyans entering from Tunisia, many returning after months of taking refuge from the war that brought down Kadhafi.