Tunisian army soldiers arrive after a gunman opened fire on a beachside hotel in Sousse, Tunisia, June 26, 2015. REUTERS
TUNIS: Tunisia's parliament has voted overwhelmingly to pass the country's new anti-terror law despite fears by rights groups that it could be abused.
In a late-night session Friday, 174 deputies voted for the legislation, 10 abstained and no one voted against it.
The law replaces earlier legislation from 2003 and is designed to facilitate efforts to combat terrorism.
Discussion over the law, especially whether it might open the way to rights abuses, stretched on for years but was given new impetus with a pair of devastating attacks on tourists in March at a Tunis museum and then last month a beach resort.
The sole country to emerge from the 2011 uprisings with a democracy, Tunisia has been targeted by militant groups.
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Tunisia overwhelmingly passes anti-terror law
Keshav
Published: 04:07 pm Jul 25, 2015

Illegal migrants are seen on a boat after being rescued by the Tunisian navy off the coast near Ben Guerdane, Tunisia, June 10, 2015. REUTERS/Stringer