Jihadist chief killed as Tunisians march

antiextremism-march-Tunis

Protesters at an anti-extremism march, in Tunis on Sunday. Tens of thousands of Tunisians from across the political spectrum marched through the capital to denounce extremist violence after a deadly museum attack on foreign tourists. Photo: AP

Tunis: Tunisia has killed the leader of the jihadists accused of organising the massacre at its national museum.

As thousands took to the streets in a march against extremism, authorities said Lokmane Abou Sakhr – an Algerian who was singled out as the organiser of the museum attack – was killed along with at least eight others from the notorious Okba Ibn Nafaa Brigade.

Officials had accused Abou Sakhr and his group of organising the attack on the Bardo Museum that left 21 foreign tourists dead, despite a claim of responsibility from the Islamic State group.

Placards reading "I am Hilda", and "I am Nadine", names of the victims of the attack on the Bardo Museum in Tunis.

Placards reading “I am Hilda”, and “I am Nadine”, names of the victims of the attack on the Bardo Museum in Tunis.Photo: AP

Tunisian forces “were able yesterday to kill the most important members of the Okba Ibn Nafaa Brigade, including its head Lokmane Abou Sakhr,” Prime Minister Habib Essid said on Sunday.

Authorities say Okba Ibn Nafaa has been behind a series of attacks on security forces that have left about 60 people dead since late 2012.

Some 12,000 people set off on Sunday for the march “against terrorism” in Tunis, waving Tunisian flags and chanting: “Tunisia is free! Terrorism out!”

Tunisia's Interior Minister Najem Gharsalli, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo and Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski join the march in Tunis on Sunday.

Tunisia’s Interior Minister Najem Gharsalli, Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo and Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski join the march in Tunis on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

The march was to go from Tunis’s Bab Saadoun Square to the museum, where a stone tablet was to be dedicated to the memory of the 21 foreign tourists and Tunisian policeman killed in the attack.

President Beji Caid Essebsi hosted foreign dignitaries, including his counterparts from France, Francois Hollande, and Poland, Bronislaw Komorowski, as well as Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Algeria’s premier, Abdelmalek Sellal, as well as the foreign ministers of Spain, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, and the Netherlands, Bert Koenders, were also expected.

A protestor holds a placard reading "All together against terrorism" and Tunisian flags, at an anti-extremism march in Tunis on Sunday.

A protestor holds a placard reading “All together against terrorism” and Tunisian flags, at an anti-extremism march in Tunis on Sunday. Photo: AP

The dead tourists were from Australia, Italy, Japan, France, Spain, Colombia, Britain, Belgium, Poland and Russia.

Officials have described the attack as “a big blow” to Tunisia’s crucial tourism industry, seen as key to reviving the economy in the birthplace of the Arab Spring.

President Essebsi had called for a huge turnout for the march to the museum, which is due to reopen to the public on Monday.

Tunisia has seen an upsurge in Islamic extremism since overthrowing long-time strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, but has taken pride in forming a democratic government since the Arab Spring – in marked contrast to countries such as Libya, Syria and Yemen.

Source