Security officer, 3 militants killed in Tunisia clashes

TUNIS

A Tunisian national guard chief and three militants were killed in an exchange of fire near the Algerian border on Monday, according to a local security source.

The shootout took place in a remote area near the town of Hidra in the Kasserine province, the source said on condition of anonymity.

The source declined to give further details as the operation against the militants was still ongoing.

Monday's violence came on the first day of campaigning for Tunisia's presidential election slated for Sept. 15.

Tunisia was hit by a spate of militant attacks claimed by the Daesh and al-Qaeda terrorist groups since 2011, killing dozens of security personnel and foreign tourists.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara