Libya, Tunisia eye anti-terrorist co-operation

Neighbours Libya and Tunisia, which have been hit by a string of jihadist attacks, pledged on Friday to co-operate in the fight against terrorism.
“We will conquer terrorism, but it will take time and co-operation,” Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid told a joint news conference in Tripoli hours after his arrival in the Libyan capital.
The head of Libya’s new unity government, Fayez al-Sarraj, agreed on the need to bolster bilateral cooperation against jihadists active in both countries.
“We spoke about security co-ordination for the battle against terrorism,” Sarraj told reporters.
“What happened yesterday in the Abu Grein area… was very close,” he added.
On Thursday jihadists from the Islamic State group advanced on the town of Abu Grein east of Tripoli and overran a key crossroads in an assault during which a suicide bomber killed two policemen.
The crossroads spills onto the coastal highway that stretches further east to the border with Tunisia.
ISIS launched the assault from their stronghold in Sirte, which they captured last June and where they have set up a training camp for Libyan and foreign militants.
The Libyan news agency LANA said Tunisia and Libya are expected to set up a joint committee tasked with controlling the main Ras Jedir border crossing between the two.