Tunisia closes border crossing with Libya after hundreds of stranded Egyptians, fleeing violence, tried to break through the passage. (Aug. 1)
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Ras Ajdir crossing point, Ben Gardane, Tunisia
1. Various of border crossing point, AUDIO: Gunfire
2. Various of chaotic scenes at Tunisia-Libya border with people chanting and pushing, trying to enter Tunisia
3. Tunisian armed officer walking towards troubled area
4. Various of crowd retreating, UPSOUND: gun shots
5. Another Tunisian officer running towards troubled area
6. Wide of people trying to jump wall
7. Tunisian side of border crossing with some people calmly showing their papers to immigration officers, armed security officers walking pass by them towards troubled area of border
8. Men standing on wall, crowd below
9. More Tunisian armed policemen arriving
10. Various of armed officers surrounding protesting crowd
11. Crowd retreating, UPSOUND: gunfire
12. Two more Tunisian armed officers walking towards troubled area, UPSOUND: gunfire
13. Various of crowd, UPSOUND: gunfire
STORYLINE:
Tunisia closed its main border crossing with Libya on Friday after thousands of stranded Egyptian and foreign nationals, fleeing militias’ fighting and violence in Libya, tried to break through the passage, the Tunisian news agency said.
Gunshots were fired and protesters on the Libyan side were heard chanting.
The police responded by shooting in the air and firing tear gas.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.
An Associated Press reporter at the crossing said no one managed to make it to the other side and security forces used vehicles to physically block access.
After a Tunisian police officer was wounded by gunfire from the Libyan side of the border, authorities closed the crossing, the official Tunisian news agency TAP said.
It was the second eruption of unrest at the border in as many days, as thousands of Libyans stream into neighboring Tunisia, along with foreign nationals.
Tunisia is the only escape route as fighting escalates in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, where rival militias have been battling for weeks for control over the airport.
