Is Tunisa Next? (2)

Tunisian Interior Minister Rafik Beladj Kacem is giving more details about clashes between security forces and suspected extremists south of Tunis. After initially downplaying the incidents, Kacem is confirming that the clashes were indeed with Islamic militants. He also is revealing that the suspects possessed materials about foreign embassies and certain foreign diplomats in Tunis. The Interior Ministry lent credence to the belief that the militants may have been part of an attempted resurgence by Al Qaeda in North Africa. A ministry statement says that six suspects including five Tunisians had entered Tunisia from Algeria, the base of the Al Qaeda-affiliated Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). Worth keeping an eye on the group, which also may have been behind the attack in Algeria last month on employees of a unit of U.S.-based oil and gas services company Halliburton.

By Scott MacLeod/Cairo