Essebsi stresses importance of Saudi-Tunisia ties

TUNIS - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held talks in Tunisia on Tuesday as part of a regional tour.

Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, who flew in from Cairo, met with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi before they dined together with Prime Minister Youssef Chahed.

Upon receiving him, Essebsi said the Saudi royal was "not merely a guest of Tunisia, he is at home here", stressing the importance of their countries' ties.

The Tunisian presidency said the two men had discussed "ways to strengthen cooperation", including boosting investment as well as security and military links.

Prince Mohammed's stay in Tunisia is part of a regional tour, which comes as the murder of journalist Jamal leads to increased scrutiny of Saudi Arabia's role in Yemen's devastating war.

The crown prince's visit is the first by a Saudi royal to Tunisia since the 2011 revolution deposed longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi crown prince has also held talks in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt on his first foreign tour since the Khashoggi affair erupted.

In Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi praised the "unshakable strategic alliance between Egypt and Saudi Arabia" during the visit, the state daily Al-Ahram reported Tuesday.

"The stability and security of Saudi Arabia is an integral part of Egypt's security," Sisi said.