Tunisia ends mission in Benghazi

A Libyan official source confirmed that the Tunisian authorities had withdrawn its consul in Benghazi after its foreign minister attended the conference of ‘Federalism Advocates’, in which some figures declared Cyrenaica a federal, semi-autonomous region. The Islamist-linked Tunisian news agency 'Benaa News' revealed that Tunisian foreign minister Rafiq Abdel Salam, participated in the convention without informing the foreign ministry, or the State's representative for Arab and African affairs, or even any adminstrative department  in the ministry. The minister took the decision in consultation with the State's representative for Arab and African affairs, after one of the minister's advisors reported the case to him. The sources explained that the Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed Abdul Aziz received a phone call from the Tunisian president’s advisor confirming the withdrawal of his country’s consul in Benghazi, considering his participation in this conference as an unintentional act and personal error. The sources said that the Tunisian official expressed his country’s apology for this action; also the sources noted that Italian Ambassador to Tripoli regretted the participation of the Italian embassy in the same conference. Tunisia had earlier expressed "its firm rejection to any actions which could be considered as a threat for the unity of Libya", referring to a declaration from tribal militia leaders in East Libya for the province of Barca as "a semi self-ruling federal territory". A statement issued from the Tunisian foreign ministry on Thursday March 8 said: "Tunisia emphasises  its full support for the efforts of the National Transitional Council (NTC) in Libya and its government to protect the unity and stability of Libya." The statement urged "all parts of the Libyan nation, to preserve the gains of the February 17 revolution, and to show support for the NTC to get through this critical period in Libyan history". The statement continued to express "Tunisia's faith in the ability of the Libyan people to achieve a smooth and successful operation to reach a united, democratic, modern state as was aimed for in the February 17 revolution".  The Italian ambassador said in his meeting with the deputy foreign minister that his participation was unintentional and that Italy was against dividing Libya and supported the unity of its soil.