Algeria seeks building security line with Tunisia

"Arabs Today” has learned that Algeria is trying to collaborate with Tunisia to form a security line to protect their common border areas shared with Libya. A delegation from the Ministry of Defence in Algeria is expected to visit Tunisia in the coming days to discuss with Tunisian officials bilateral coordination between the two countries and to implement security border schemes that Algeria had initially signed with Libya as a protocol that is centred around "anti-smuggling and illegal immigration." However, the war in Libya delayed the implementation of these agreements after the pro Gaddafi troop's withdrew from the western regions that are now in the hands of the rebels. It is also expected that Algeria will ask Tunisia to coordinate together in order to protect the Southern borders in contact with Libya. Tunisia has suffered from several security problems along the border with Libya, which extends for more than 490 km. Fears have increased since the Libyan crisis created a thoroughfare through the western Arab world for fighting elements and arms smuggling.  Tunisia however thwarted several attempts to infiltrate and smuggle weapons through its territory. In May Tunisia also announced the arrest of two militants who were preparing to blow up a house that was inhabited by a number of opponents of Gaddafi. The fight between the Tunisian armed forces and three members of al-Qaeda in the Islamic west resulted in the death of two officers in the Tunisian army and two militants while the third one escaped.