US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta pledged on Monday his country's "unconditional" support to Tunisia, "given the socio-economic difficulties the country is currently facing," the state-run TAP press agency reported.

Panetta gave the pledge during his meeting with Tunisia's President Moncef Marzouki.

The meeting also evoked the security cooperation between the two countries in light of the current instability in Mali, the report said.

Panetta, who is on a one-day visit to Tunisia, also reaffirmed US commitment to Tunisia's transition.

Panetta raised threat posed by al-Qaida for the Maghreb (AQMI) to Tunisia and the whole region.