Tunisia extends state of emergency

Tunisia will extend the ongoing state of emergency until August 31, 2012, the country's official TAP press agency reported Tuesday.

Quoting a communique from the Tunisian presidency, the report said "The decision was taken following a noticeable improvement of security situation."

The presidency is working with military and security authorities to put an end to the state of emergency, the report added.

The state of emergency has been in place since start of the turmoil that led to the downfall of former strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali last January.