Attack stokes instability fears in North Africa

By Erin Cunningham - March 18 at 3:57 PM - - - Follow @erinmcunningham -

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CAIRO — Gunmen opened fire on visitors at - Tunisia’s most renowned museum on Wednesday, killing at least 19 people, - including 17 foreigners, in an assault that threatened to upset the fragile - stability of a country seen as the lone success of the Arab Spring.

It was the most deadly terrorist attack in the North African nation in - more than a decade. Although no group claimed responsibility, the bloodshed - raised fears that militants linked to the Islamic State were expanding - their operations.

The attackers, clad in military uniforms, stormed the Bardo National Museum on - Wednesday afternoon, seizing and gunning down foreign tourists before security - forces raided the building to end the siege. The museum is a major tourist - draw and is near the heavily guarded national parliament in downtown Tunis.

Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid said that in addition to the slain - foreigners — from Italy, Poland, Germany and Spain — a local museum worker - and a security official were killed. Two gunmen died, and three others - may have escaped, officials said. About 50 other people were wounded, according - to local news reports.

“Our nation is in danger,” Essid declared in a televised address Wednesday - evening. He vowed that the country would be “merciless” in defending itself.

[Read: Why Tunisia, Arab Spring’s sole success story, suffers from Islamist violence] -

Tunisia, a mostly Muslim nation of about 11 million people, was governed - for decades by autocrats who imposed secularism. Its sun-drenched Mediterranean - beaches drew thousands of bikini-clad tourists, and its governments promoted - education and other rights for women. But the country has grappled with - rising Islamist militancy since a popular uprising overthrew its dictator - four years ago, setting the stage for the Arab Spring revolts across the - region.

Thousands of Tunisians have flocked to join jihadist groups in Syria, - including the Islamic State, making the country one of the major sources - of foreign fighters in the conflict. Tunisian security forces have also - fought increasing gunbattles with jihadists at home.

Despite this, the country has been hailed as a model of democratic transition - as other governments that came to power after the Arab Spring collapsed, - often in bloody confrontations. But the attack Wednesday — on a national - landmark that showcases Tunisia’s rich heritage — could heighten tensions - in a nation that has become deeply divided between pro- and anti-Islamist - political factions.

Many Tunisians accuse the country’s political Islamists, who held power - from 2011 to 2013, of having been slow to respond to the growing danger - of terrorism. Islamist politicians have acknowledged that they did not - realize the threat that would develop when radical Muslims, who had been - repressed under authoritarian regimes, won the freedom to preach freely - in mosques.

In Washington, White House press secretary Josh Earnest condemned the attack and - said the U.S. government was willing to assist Tunisian authorities in - the investigation.

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Gunmen in military uniforms stormed Tunisia's national museum, killing at least 19 people, most of them foreign tourists. (Reuters) -

“This attack today is meant to threaten authorities, to frighten tourists - and to negatively affect the economy,” said Lotfi Azzouz, Tunisia country - director for Amnesty International, a London-based rights group.

Tourism is critical to Tunisia’s economy, accounting for 15 percent of - its gross domestic product in 2013, according to the World Travel and Tourism - Council, an industry body. The Bardo museum hosts one of the world’s most - outstanding collections of Roman mosaics and is popular with tourists and - Tunisians alike.

[Bardo museum houses amazing Roman treasures] -

The attack is “also aimed at the country’s security and stability during - the transition period,” Azzouz said. “And it could have political repercussions - — like the curtailing of human rights, or even less government transparency - if there’s fear of further attacks.”

The attack raised concerns that the government, led by secularists, would - be pressured to stage a wider crackdown on Islamists of all stripes. Lawmakers - are drafting an anti-terrorism bill to give security forces additional - tools to fight militants.

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[Read: Tunisia sends most foreign fighters to Islamic State in Syria] -

“We must pay attention to what is written” in that law, Azzouz said. “There - is worry the government will use the attack to justify some draconian measures.”

Tunisian Islamists and secular forces have worked together — often reluctantly - — to defuse the country’s political crises in the years since the revolt.

Last fall, Tunisians elected a secular-minded president and parliament - dominated by liberal forces after souring on Islamist-led rule. - In 2011, voters had elected a government led by the Ennahda party — a movement - similar to Egypt’s Islamist Muslim Brotherhood. But a political stalemate - developed as the party and others tried to draft the country’s new constitution. - The Islamists failed to improve a slumping economy. And Ennahda came under - fire for what many Tunisians saw as a failure to crack down on Islamist - extremists.

- Map: Flow of foreign fighters to Syria - - View Graphic - - -

Map: Flow of foreign fighters to Syria -

After the collapse of the authoritarian system in 2011, hard-line Muslims - known as Salafists attacked bars and art galleries. Then, in 2012, hundreds - of Islamists assaulted the U.S. Embassy in - Tunis, shattering windows and hurling gasoline bombs, after the release - of a crude online video about the prophet Muhammad. The - government outlawed the group behind the attack — Ansar al-Sharia, an al-Qaeda-linked - organization — and began a crackdown. But the killing of two leftist politicians in - 2013 prompted a fresh political crisis, and Ennahda stepped down, replaced - by a technocratic government.

Tunisia’s current coalition government includes - an Ennahda minister in the cabinet. Still, many leftist figures openly - oppose collaboration with the movement’s leaders.

“Ennahda is responsible for the current deterioration of the situation, - because they were careless with the extremists” while they were in power, - Azzouz said.

The leader of Ennahda, Rachid Ghannouchi, condemned Wednesday’s attack, - saying in a statement that it “will not break our people’s will and will - not undermine our revolution and our democracy.”

Security officials are particularly concerned by the collapse of Libya, - where various armed groups are vying for influence and jihadist militants - have entrenched themselves in major cities. Tunisians worry that extremists - can easily get arms and training in the neighboring country.

In January, Libyan militants loyal to the Islamic State beheaded 21 Christians — - 20 of them Egyptian Copts — along the country’s coast. They later seized - the Libyan city of Sirte.

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Officials are worried about the number of Tunisian militants who may have - joined the jihadists in Libya — with the goal of returning home to fight - the Tunis government.

Ajmi Lourimi, a member of Ennahda’s general secretariat, said he believed - the attack would unite Tunisians in the face of terrorism.

“There is a consensus here that this [attack] is alien to our culture, - to our way of life. We want to unify against this danger,” Lourimi said. - He said he did not expect a wider government campaign against Islamists.

“We have nothing to fear,” he said of himself and fellow Ennahda members. - “We believe the Interior Ministry should be trained and equipped to fight - and counter this militancy.”

The last major attack on a civilian target in Tunisia was in 2002, when - al-Qaeda militants killed more than 20 people in a car bombing outside - a synagogue in the city of Djerba.

Heba Habib contributed to this report.

Tunisia sends most foreign fighters to Islamic State in Syria -

Tunisia’s Bardo museum is home to amazing Roman treasures -

Erin Cunningham is an Egypt-based correspondent for The Post. She previously - covered conflicts in the Middle East and Afghanistan for the Christian - Science Monitor, GlobalPost and The National.

Attack stokes instability fears in North Africa

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