Tunis — President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali called for greater cooperation and coordination among Arab countries to combat terrorism, and "particularly as regards the exchange of information, expertise and experiences and to offer specialized training opportunities for those working in this sector".

President Ben Ali added that "current realities, in fact, do require promoting coordination and cooperation in this field, within the framework of the international community, by limiting the movement of terrorists, revising the provisions pertaining to the granting of political asylum and preventing its exploitation by terrorists groups, " adding that "it is within this context that Tunisia launched its call for the need to hold an international conference, under the aegis of the United Nations, for the adoption of an international anti-terrorism code of conduct to which all parties shall be committed."

President Ben Ali's remarks came in a speech to the Arab Ministers of the interior meeting in Tunis. The speech was read on his behalf Tuesday by Tunisian Minister of the interior and local development, Mr Rafik Haj Kacem .

Apart from developing an Arab strategy against terrorism, the ministerial meeting is scheduled to discuss a number of issues pertaining to joint Arab security cooperation in such areas as the fight against narcotics trafficking and the prevention of traffic accidents.

A new Secretary General for the Council of Arab Minsters of the Interior will also be picked during the meeting.