A Tunisian pop star has pulled out of a concert after a video emerged of him performing at a synagogue.

Saleem Bakkoush was set to sing at the annual Carthage festival but had his appearance cancelled after the footage surfaced.

Mr Bakkoush said the show at Tunisia’s oldest synagogue in Djerba was several years ago and accused “rivals” of trying to damage his reputation.

Judaism is believed to be Tunisia’s third largest religion, with a population of 1,500 Jews living mainly in Tunis and Djerba.

But the North African Arab nation also has strong ties with the Palestinians, as between 1982 and1991 the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) leadership operated out of the Tunisian capital.