Suspicious envelope found in Tunisia president's office

By Yousri Ounas

TUNIS, Tunisia (AA) - The Tunisian president's office said on Wednesday that a suspicious envelope was received by the Carthage Palace, the country's official news agency reported.

The agency quoted a Tunisian official without referring to his name that the envelope did not contain any document but a suspicious powder.

He added that President Kais Saied did not receive/open the envelope but it was opened by an employee.

The official source noted that the envelope and the powder were sent to a lab for tests.

Meanwhile, an unofficial Facebook page holding the president's name said Saied was subjected to a poisoning attempt through a letter that contained "toxic ricin material."

On Aug. 21, a Tunisian daily said the police received reports over attempts to poison the president by bread that comes to the presidential office. The Tunisian police, however, investigated the case and found it untrue.

* Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara.