Tunisian authorities detain two UAE residents over possible coup plot

The government in Tunisia has arrested three of its own citizens and two people from the UAE on the grounds that they appear to have been creating conditions for a military coup on the country.

The three Tunisians belong to what is being called the “Tunisian Tamarud”, an anti-regime movement inspired by the Egyptian version which toppled the elected president Mohamed Morsi with the army’s help three weeks ago. The Egyptian Tamarud was supported and subsidised by the remnants of the discredited Mubarak regime and Coptic businessman Naguib Sawiris.

Tunis News reported that the Authorities were following the UAE contacts since they entered the country and started acting suspiciously. A large amount of money and documentation was seized when the men were arrested.

The government of the UAE is known to have backed the coup in Egypt and has since pledged billions of dollars in support of the military-backed government.