Britons, Danes urged to leave Tunisia over attack fears

Denmark followed Britain's example today in urging its nationals to cut short their holidays in Tunisia after London warned the country was still unsafe after last month's beach massacre.
Tunisia's prime minister said he would telephone British counterpart David Cameron to discuss London's advice which he said would have consequences on the North African nation, heavily dependent on tourism.
Guidance issued yesterday by the Foreign Office in London forced tour operators from Britain, whose nationals bore the brunt of the beach massacre, to halt all holidays to Tunisia in a massive blow to a key sector of its economy.
The estimated 3,000 British tourists already in the country had their holidays cut short, and some have already flown home.

Prime Minister Habib Essid told parliament late Thursday that the guidance "has repercussions, repercussions for other countries".
"We will ring the British prime minister to tell him we have done everything we can to protect all British interests and those of other countries -- that's our duty," Essid said.

"Britain is free to take whatever decision it likes; it's a sovereign country. But we too are a sovereign country, and we have a position to take."
Tunisia's foreign minister said his government would focus on trying to convince London to reverse its position.
Denmark, however, also advised its citizens to leave Tunisia, saying there was a "high risk" of another attack.

"If you are in Tunisia and do not have essential reasons for being there, you are advised to leave," the Danish foreign ministry said.
"There is a high risk of terrorist attacks against Western targets in Tunisia and at tourist attractions, public buildings, near security agencies and in places where large crowds are gathered," it said.
In contrast to Britain, France said it would not urge its nationals to leave Tunisia, but was warning people to be "particularly vigilant".
Tunisia has brought in a raft of new security measures, including arming tourist police, since a jihadist gunman killed 38 foreign holidaymakers, 30 of them Britons, at the beach resort of Port El Kantaoui on June 26.

On Saturday, the Tunis government declared a nationwide state of emergency for 30 days.
But the Foreign Office said it did not believe there was "adequate protection" and advised against all but essential travel.
Finland today also amended its travel recommendation for Tunisia to highlight "heightened risk for new terror attacks against tourists".