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Tunisia extends state of emergency by a further four months

Tunisia has prolonged a state of emergency which has been in force for a year and a half, by a further four months. According to a statement posted by the presidency on facebook, the decision reached on Wednesday followed a consultation with the country’s head of government and the president of the People’s Representatives Assembly.

A state of emergency grants emergency powers to the police, and also allows for the prohibition of demonstrations and any gatherings “likely to provoke disorder”. It also provides for adoption of measures to “control the press.”

Tunisia’s state of emergency, has been in force since an attack on the presidential guard on 24 November 2015 in Tunis. Twelve agents were killed in the attack claimed by the Islamic State extremist group.

Two other major attacks also claimed by the Islamic State took place in March and June 2015,at the Bardo Museum in Tunis and at the Sousse Beach Resort respectively, which saw 60 dead, including 59 foreign tourists.

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