Marzouki: State must equip army to fight terrorism

The Tunisian state must provide the army with the necessary equipment to defend itself and fight terrorism, caretaker President Moncef Marzouki said, calling for a review of the 2014 complementary budget, the official TAP news agency reported.
"Terrorists must bear in mind that we are going to take up the challenges and overcome all difficulties and drive them out of the country," Marzouki said in a televised speech on Thursday night, following a terrorist attack the night before on two army checkpoints in Mount Chaambi that left 14 military personnel dead and 25 injured, three of them seriously.
In his address, Marzouki said "terrorists were seeking to convey a message to the Tunisian people, according to which there is no place for joy, security, stability and continuing the democratic process." He called on the Tunisian people to respond to this message with another that reiterates their "commitment" to a lifestyle that combines authenticity with modernity, consecrates a moderate Islam and continues the democratic path.
"To pay tribute to the martyrs among security officers and the national army, we must show self-restraint against the heinous terrorist acts," Marzouki added.
The assault on the army checkpoints was carried out by a terrorist group made up of 40-60 militants, Defense Minister Ghazi Jeribi said Thursday during a press briefing.