Several killed as gunmen attack Tunisia tourist hotel

At least seven killed near Sousse, with ongoing exchanges of gunfire reported between attackers and security forces.

The attack was on the Imperial Marhaba hotel, local radio said, according to the Reuters news agency. Other reports indicated that two hotels may have been attacked.

Al Jazeera's Nazanine Moshiri, reporting from Tunis, said that local reports indicated that gunmen may have specifically targeted tourists at the resort - but that the reports have not yet been confirmed. 

There were no other details immediately available.

Tunisia has been on high alert since March when gunmen attacked the Bardo museum in Tunis, killing a group of foreign tourists in one of the worst attacks in a decade in the North African country.

Our correspondent said that the new attack would be another blow to the country's economy, which relies heavily on tourism.