Tunisia Says Libya Is Threatening to Attack Unless Press Criticism Stops

The Libyan government of Moammar Kadafi is threatening to use military force to silence what it says is an anti-Libyan campaign in the Tunisian press, government officials said Friday.

Tunisia responded by closing the Libyan consulate in Sfax, in central Tunisia, and recalling its ambassador. Tunisia also sent a letter to the United Nations saying the nation is prepared “to counter any eventuality.”

A Tunisian newspaper reported that 20,000 to 25,000 Libyan troops were massed a few miles east of the border separating the two North African countries.

Slaheddine Bali, Tunisia’s defense minister, met Friday with U.S. Ambassador Peter Sebastian. A U.S. diplomatic source said Washington expressed its “sympathy and solidarity” with Tunisia.

Government officials said a senior member of the Libyan People’s Committee of Foreign Affairs formally notified the Tunisian Embassy in Tripoli on Thursday of the threat to use military force.

Libya charged that there was a campaign by the Tunisian news media against the expulsion of thousands of Tunisian workers from Libya, and threatened that unless the reports are halted, it “may be compelled to take action, including the possible use of military force,” the officials said.

The government can not legally tell Tunisia’s privately run newspapers what to print or not print.