The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a loan of 137.34 million euros ($195 million) to Tunisia to help finance construction of a stretch of new highway, the bank said.

The project involves building 195 km of twin-lane road between Gabes, in south-eastern Tunisia, and Ras Jdir on the Tunisian-Libyan border, the bank said in a statement on Thursday.

Tunisia is struggling with its finances after a revolution earlier this year which curbed economimc growth. The country's caretaker leaders have appealed to foreign governments and international institutions for assistance.-Reuters