Tunisian Politicians To Meet UK Families Of Terror Victims

Tunisian Politicians To Meet UK Families Of Terror Victims

Tunisian politicians will visit the UK today to meet families of Britons killed in the terror attack on a beach resort and to urge the UK to lift official advice against travel to the Mediterranean holiday destination.

The country's transport minister, Mahmoud Ben Romdhane, told The Guardian that the warning against all but essential travel to the country was playing into the hands of the terrorists who killed 38, including 30 Britons.

The evacuation of around 3,000 UK tourists because another attack was considered "highly likely" came as a hammer blow to Tunisia's tourism industry, which makes up around 15% of the country's GDP.

Prime Minister David Cameron has told his Tunisian counterpart Habib Essid he will seek to ease the advice "as quickly as possible".

Mr Ben Romdhane, part of a delegation due to meet relatives of those killed as well as Foreign Minister Tobias Ellwood and Commons Speaker John Bercow, said: "The purpose of our stay in London is, first, to present our condolences to the families of the victims.

"Secondly, to convince the British authorities that the decision they have taken regarding Tunisia should no longer stay because it is a very painful decision for Tunisia and it is in line with the hopes of the terrorists.

"This decision will make Tunisia a remote country that no one goes to - it is the exact hope of the terrorists. This is the main message that we would like to convey to the British authorities."

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