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| Africa North |
| Tunisia declares state of emergency after deadly bus blast |
| 2015-11-26 |
| Tunisia's President Beji Caid Essebsi declared a nationwide state of emergency and a curfew in the capital after a bomb attack on a presidential guard bus killed at least 12 people on Tuesday. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing, which a ministry official said also wounded 20 people when it went off on Mohamed V Avenue, just as this year's 26th Carthage Film Festival was in full swing. Essebsi, who cancelled a trip to Switzerland for Wednesday, declared a state of emergency throughout the country and a curfew in the capital. "As a result of this painful event, this great tragedy... I proclaim a state of emergency for 30 days under the terms of law and a curfew in greater Tunis from 9:00 pm (2000 GMT) until 5:00 am tomorrow," he said in brief televised address. Presidential spokesman Moez Sinaoui, who described the bombing as an "attack", told AFP the curfew would stay in place until further notice. The United States condemned the attack and offered to help the Tunisian authorities with their investigation. US Secretary of State John Kerry "was proud to stand with Tunisian leaders earlier this month in Tunis and reaffirm our countries' extensive economic, governance, and security cooperation", a spokesman for his department said. |
| Posted by:Steve White |