FOREIGN MINISTER TELLS AMBASSADOR SALAFISTS WERE

S E C R E T TUNIS 000044

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/FO - GRAY; NEA/MAG - HOPKINS, HARRIS
NSC FOR ABRAMS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2027
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV PREL CASC TS
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER TELLS AMBASSADOR SALAFISTS WERE
TARGETING US, UK INTERESTS

REF: A. TUNIS 31

B. TUNIS 30

C. TUNIS 16

D. 06 TUNIS 2980

E. 06 TUNIS 2973

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ROBERT F. GODEC FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d)


1. (S) SUMMARY: On January 5, Foreign Minister Abdelwaheb
Abdallah briefed Ambassador on the recent security situation
in Tunisia (reftels). Abdallah said the group of very well
trained "Salafists" involved in recent incidents with GOT
security officials were targeting US and UK (and possibly
French) interests, including specifically embassies and
diplomatic residences in Tunisia. The GOT itself was also a
target according to the Foreign Minister. Abdallah said the
GOT has "the situation under control" and had been following
the group since April 2006. Post has convened an EAC and
Ambassador has briefed the UK and French Ambassadors. END
SUMMARY.


2. (S) On January 5, Tunisian Foreign Minister Abdelwaheb
Abdallah requested a one-on-one meeting with Ambassador to
brief him on the security situation in Tunisia. Abdallah
began by stressing that the GOT has the security situation
"under control." He then explained that the primary
objective of the group involved in two recent shoot-outs
(reftels),whose twenty-five members were killed or
apprehended on January 3, was to bring jihad to US and
British interests in the Middle East. Specifically, Abdallah
said, based on documents found in their possession, the group
appeared to be targeting the US and UK embassies in Tunis as
well as US and UK diplomatic residences. He added that the
French may have been targets as well. Abdallah said seized
documents included Google website images of US and British
facilities in Tunisia, adding that a secondary target was the
GOT and its institutions. Ambassador asked if the tourist
industry was also a specific target, but Abdallah simply
repeated that the US and UK interests were the primary
target.


3. (S) Abdallah stressed that the situation was "under
control," but there is still some uncertainty. "Frankly, I
don't think there is a threat now," said Abdallah. He told
Ambassador that the GOT had taken additional steps to
reinforce security at the Embassy and US diplomatic
residences. When Ambassador explained that post would have
to issue a warden notice to the American community, Abdallah
said he did not think that was necessary at this time. There
is still a lot of information we don't have, said Abdallah,
and he promised the Ambassador that the Minister of Interior
would provide more information directly to the Embassy in the
coming days, specifically by January 8 or 9.


4. (S) Abdallah stressed repeatedly that the individuals
involved were well-trained extremists. He said the GOT had
been "very vigilant" and had followed the group's activities
since April 2006. Abdallah said that the twenty-five
individuals, who were mostly Tunisians, were Salafists who
had trained in Afghanistan. The group had entered Tunisia
from the Algerian border and was "very dangerous." Abdallah
characterized the individuals as extremists who believed
their actions would lead them to paradise. Abdallah said
twelve were killed in the January 3 incident. Ambassador
asked what information the GOT had on the group's related
support network in Tunisia. Abdallah responded that the
investigation was ongoing, but hinted that the group would
have had some sort of support.


5. (S) Abdallah told Ambassador that when he learned of
Ambassador's meeting with Secretary of State Chtioui, he
asked President Ben Ali if he could brief Ambassador on the
situation. (NOTE: The Ambassador had requested a meeting
with Foreign Ministry Secretary of State for the Americas and
Asia Saida Chtioui to obtain further information on recent
events. Once Ambassador arrived at the MFA, he was informed
Minister Abdallah wanted a one-on-one meeting instead. END
NOTE.) Abdallah said that he was informing Ambassador at the
request of Ben Ali and had not yet informed other ambassadors.


6. (S) Ambassador expressed his appreciation for the
information and stressed the importance of continued
cooperation. Ambassador asked Abdallah to continue to share

all information available.


7. (S) Post convened an EAC at 14:30 local time (8:30 EST)
and will report the outcome septel. Ambassador has shared
this information with British Ambassador Alan Goulty at 15:30
local time (9:30 EST) and with French Ambassador Serge
Degallaix at 1700 local (11:00 EST).
GODEC