Nine held in Tunisia terror plot

Tunisian police have charged nine men - including two air force officers - with plotting to kill US servicemen during joint military exercises.

A lawyer for the accused said they were charged with attempting to steal weapons and launch terrorist attacks.

Tunisia, a staunch US ally, backed the Bush administration's war on terror.

It has battled an Islamist militancy in recent years and jailed around 1,000 people suspected of planning to help fight US-led forces in Iraq.

The nine men arrested will probably face trial next month, defence lawyer Samir ben Amor told Reuters news agency.

He said two of the suspects are officers from a Tunisian military base in the coastal town of Bizerte, 60km (37 miles) north-west of the capital Tunis.

Government officials were not available for comment.