Tunisia National Guard kills suspected militant, arrests 8 others in southern operation

Tunisia's Interior Ministry says National Guard units killed one suspected militant and arrested eight others in an operation far in the desert south of the country.

Following a failed suicide bomb attack on a hotel late last month, security forces have been carrying out operations around the country seeking out terrorist groups.

The ministry said in a statement that special forces descended on a house near the remote desert town of Kebili early Tuesday and fought with the "suspected terrorists." It says five vehicles, 30 mobile phones, a grenade and computers were seized.

The ministry says they also discovered a truck that was to be rigged with explosives.

Past clashes with militants have been mostly farther to the north in the mountains along the Algerian border.