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Tunisia's costly battle against its militants

Tunisia, praised internationally for post-revolution stability, cracks down on militants with the public's support, especially since the assassination of secular opposition leaders Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi in 2013.
Tunisian police run as they patrol a mountain in Kasserine October 23, 2014. The Chaambi, Saloum and Sammama mountains bordering with Algeria have become a refuge for militant groups over the past two years, turning Kasserine into a military barracks encircled by roadblocks to curb attacks. Picture taken October 23. To match story TUNISIA-ELECTION/ REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi (TUNISIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR4BK91

Tunisia's streets filled Oct. 26 with voters keen to participate in the national elections for the 217-member National Assembly, but while the country's political and ideological center rejoices, the shadow cast by its extremist border militias is not receding.

With parliamentary elections ending and preparations in place for the country's first democratic presidential elections next month, Tunisia is enjoying international praise for having experienced a “peaceful revolution leading to promising stability.”

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