Tunisian ministry defends diplomat over Algeria reports

Rachid Ghannouchi has denied his party is sending young Tunisians to fight in Syria The Tunisian foreign ministry has swiftly moved to deny media reports of the Tunisian Ambassador to Libya, Rida Abukati's involvement in the terrorist attack on an Algerian energy facility in January. Meanwhile, the leaders of Tunisia's ruling Ennahda Movement, Rachid Ghannouchi, has refuted rumours that his party is recruiting Tunisian youth to fight against the Syrian regime through the Libyan territories.
The ministry claimed that the reports contradict the diplomatic principles adopted by Tunisia, adding that it does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and renounces all forms of violence and terrorism.  
The Tunisian foreign ministry argued that the promotion of such claims could have a negative affect on the diplomatic relations between Tunisia and its neighbouring states.
The diplomatic department of the North African state warned against the publication of reports that could adversely impact on the credibility of one of the key symbols of the sovereignty of the state. The ministry urged the media channels to tread cautiously, and highlighted its right to take legal action against those trying to promote destabilising rumours.
Several Tunisian newspapers reported that the Algerian investigators looking into the attack on a British Petroleum (BP) oilfield in Algeria, in January, had found a link between Abukati and the terrorist organisation responsible for the ambush.
The Tunisian ambassador had previously claimed that armed gangs had been working to affect relations between Tunisia and Libya. He urged security authorities of the two countries to intensify their cooperation and confront such gangs.
Meanwhile, leader of Tunisia's Ennahda Movement Rachid Ghannouchi has denied that his party is involved in sending fighters to participate in the battle against the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, adding that the Tunisian authorities have intensified their presence on the borders between Tunisia and Libya, to prevent the Tunisian jihadists from travelling to Syria through the Libyan territories.
Sources told Arabstoday that the Tunisian security forces had been ordered to stop young Tunisians from crossing over to the Libyan territories as part of a clampdown on Tunisian immigration to Syria. The move was authorised even though Tunisian Prime Minister, Ali Laarayedh, said that his government had no legal right to prevent the Tunisians from travelling to Syria.
Elsewhere, the US Ambassador to Tunisia, Jacob Walles has reiterated his country’s desire to provide support to Tunisia it is fight against terrorism. Walles said that the US does not want to interfere in Tunisia's political decisions, but is keen to help the Tunisian government end the transitional period successfully.
The Tunisian government denied reports that America officials are seeking to establish a military base in Tunisia.