Libyans hijack Tunisian fishing boat

A Tunisian fishing boat was hijacked by a militant group believed to belong to Libyan rebels of the Libyan city Zowara, the Tunisian local Radio station Tetaween reported.  Tetaween announced that one sailor was killed in the attack and 17 others were taken hostage. The Tunisian government is yet to give any official response to the incident that may be linked to the extradition of Muammar Gaddafi's last Prime Minister Bughdadi al-Mahmoudi to Libya. Tunisian Political analysts told Arabstoday that this incident may be a reaction from the rebels of Zowara to the popular protests organised by the residents of the eastern Tunisian border city Benguerdan against Mahmoudi's extradition, especially as Beguerda is seen as traditionally supportive of the Gaddafi regime and Mahmoudi's roots go back to the Nawael tribe, which is based in the same city. Tunisia's embassy in Tripoli was also targeted by an explosive device on Tuesday, but no injuries were reported. The Libyan Foreign Ministry condemned the assault describing it as "offensive". "This is an individual and isolated act, which would never affect the strong ties between us and our Tunisian brothers," said the Foreign Ministry's spokesperson.