Tunisia's government says 45 people have been killed after extremists attacked a town near the Libyan border.

TUNIS, Tunisia (@AP) - Tunisia: 45 gunmen, civilians, security forces dead in clashes near Libya; border closed.

— TheBlazeNOW (@TheBlazeNOW) March 7, 2016

The interior and defense ministries said in a statement that the Tunisian government has closed its two border crossings with Libya because of the attack Monday.

The statement says 28 "terrorists" have been killed in the fighting, seven civilians and 10 members of Tunisia's security forces.

People shelter from the gun fire outside a house, in El Aouija, outside Ben Guerdane, 650 km away from Tunis, Wednesday, March 2, 2016. Tunisian security forces killed five heavily armed men in an hours-long firefight Wednesday after they crossed into the country from Libya with a larger group. (AP Photo)

The attack comes amid growing international concern about Islamic State extremists in Libya.