Mine Blast Wounds One in Tunisia

An explosion wounded a civilian driver on Friday in Tunisia's Chaambi mountains near the border with Algeria, where troops are tracking Islamist militants, the defense ministry said.

"An improvised mine exploded as a tractor passed the entry to the Chaambi Mountain reserve. The driver was wounded," defense ministry spokesman Taoufik Rahmouni told Agence France Presse.

Soldiers in an armored vehicle who were escorting the tractor helped the wounded man, but their vehicle later flipped on its side as they were taking him to hospital, slightly injuring four troops, he added.

Since December 2012, Tunisian security forces have been targeting hardline Islamist militants in the Chaambi range bordering Algeria.

Last year, around 20 members of the security forces were killed during operations against the militants.

Following the popular uprising that overthrew dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, Tunisia's authorities have faced a resurgence in jihadist activity, long suppressed by the previous regime.