Paris attacks claim Tunisian sisters celebrating a birthday

TUNIS — Two Tunisian sisters living in France were among at least 128 people killed in Paris after travelling there to celebrate a birthday, officials and media said Saturday.

The women, aged 34 and 35, were from the Tunisian town of Menzel Bourguiba but living in Creusot in central France, foreign ministry spokesman Naoufel Laabidi said.

Mosaique FM radio identified them as Houda and Halima Ben Khalifa Saadi.

It said they were celebrating in one of the restaurants targeted by gunmen during the wave of shootings and bombings claimed by the Daesh terror group.

Around 700,000 Tunisians live in France, the former colonial power in the North African country.

Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi, who is on a private visit to Paris, met French President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace Saturday.

He called on "all people who love freedom to coordinate their efforts" against these "barbarous acts".