TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisia’s Interior Ministry on Friday banned a conference by the North African country’s most prominent ultraconservative Islamic group, setting up the possibility of a confrontation over the weekend.

The ministry statement, which appeared on their Facebook site, said Ansar al-Shariah’s annual conference to be held in Tunisia’s holy city of Kairouan was not in compliance with the laws governing assembly and was a threat to public order.

Recommended Stories

Egyptians take quarrel over charter to the polls

AP Interview: Egypt atheist blasts Islamist regime

Egypt clamps hold over mosques to control message