Badri Tlili, a Tunisian army sergeant suspected of links with a terrorist cell, died in a hospital in the capital Tunis from a suicide attempt, a spokesman of defense ministry said Sunday.

Tlili was arrested following an enquiry into the armed network in Jendouba town, and was interrogated prior to a court hearing, the spokesman said.

During the interrogation, Tlili admitted being linked to a terrorist network operating near the Tunisian-Algerian border. On Saturday, the army officer attempted to hang himself using his military garments, the spokesman added.

The man's family have called for an independent autopsy, Radio Mosaique FM reported Sunday.

Earlier this month, Tunisia's interior minister announced the dismantling of an al-Qaida cell and the arrest of 16 men involved in terrorist activities, as well as training operations in a mountainous area near Tunisia's border with Algeria. At least one Tunisian national guard officer was killed during clashes with members of the terrorist group.