British holidaymakers in Tunisa to fly home
Tunis, 10 Jul - (ANA) - Thousands of British holidaymakers are to be flown home from Tunisia following warnings that another terrorist attack in the country is "highly likely". Thirty Britons were killed in an attack in Sousse last month - and the Foreign Office has now urged all Britons to leave the country. Extra security measures there did not provide "adequate protection", it said. Tunisia has criticised the decision, with its ambassador to the UK saying it was "what the terrorists want". Between 2,500 and 3,000 British package holidaymakers are believed to be in Tunisia, as well as about 500 independent travellers. The Association of British Travel Agents said its members were aiming to bring customers home in the next 48 hours. The first Britons are expected to arrive back in the UK later. Some still waiting to leave Sousse spoke of their disappointment - and fears - over the fresh advice, saying they felt there was no option but to leave. A gunman killed 38 holidaymakers in the 26 June beach attack, prompting Tunisia to declare a state of emergency. The Tunisian government also increased security in tourist areas, and announced plans for a wall along the border with Libya, to counter the terror threat. Tunisia believes gunman Seifeddine Rezgui trained with the Ansar al-Sharia group in the neighbouring country, though the Islamic State group has claimed the attack. Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of collaborating with Rezgui, who was killed after the shooting spree. The UK government said there was no new "specific or imminent" threat but intelligence had led officials to the view that a further terrorist attack was "highly likely". Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the Tunisian investigation into the Sousse attack - and an attack in March on the Bardo Museum near Tunis which left 22 dead, including one Briton - was continuing and Tunisian authorities had "made clear they want to track down further individuals who they suspect may have links" to the attacks. He said a security assessment in tourist areas found more work was needed "to effectively protect tourists from the terrorist threat". (ANA)

FA/ANA/10 July 2015----------------