Tunisian PM grilled over new deputy FM

Tunisian protesters and activists in clash with government forces (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/187313.html

Tunisian activists say Prime Minister Beji Caid Sebsi is seeking normalization of ties with the Israeli regime after he appointed Khamis al-Jihnavi as deputy foreign minister.

The activists slammed the move as illegal, saying the appointment of Jihnavi, the former head of Tunisia's Interest Section in Israel, is a step towards normalization of relations with Tel Aviv, DPA reported.

They said his appointment violated the regulations of Tunisia's High Commission for Political Reforms and Democratic Transition.

The High Commission has recently adopted a “pact of reform” which supports the Palestinian cause and prohibits normalization of relations with Israel.

Jihnavi and Shalom Cohen - the former head of Israel's Interest Section in Tunisia - were both appointed to the positions in 1996, but stopped their activities in 2000, when the second Palestinian Intifada began.

The reform pact will provide the basis for a new constitution in Tunisia following the ouster of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in a January revolution.

Tunisians are expected to elect an assembly in October to draft a new constitution.

No Israel ties in Tunisia reform pact

A file photo of anti-government street protests in Tunisia

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/187145.html

Tunisia's High Commission for Political Reforms and Democratic Transition says it has adopted a 'pact of reforms' that prohibits normalization of relations with Israel.

Yadh Ben Achour, the president of the commission announced the adoption of the agreement without giving further details on its contents, AFP reported on Friday.

The pact will provide the basis for a new constitution in the North African country.

The document also states that Tunisia is a democratic country, its language is Arabic and its religion is Islam.

It further says that Tunisia supports the Palestinian cause on top of refusing ties with Israel.

Tunisians are expected to elect an assembly in October to draft a new constitution.

At least 147 people were killed and 510 left injured during the Tunisian 'Jasmine Revolution' that unseated Ben Ali in January after a 23-year-long authoritarian rule, according to the United Nations.

On January 14, Ben Ali fled the North African country to the Saudi port city of Jeddah. There are unconfirmed claims that the deposed Tunisian dictator has gone into a coma in Saudi Arabia after suffering a stroke.

Riots and protests broke out in Tunisia following the self-immolation of a 26-year-old fruit vendor, identified as Muhammad Bouazizi, who set himself on fire after police confiscated his merchandise.

Tunis court sentences Ben Ali to 35 yrs

Tunisia's ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his wife Leila Trabelsi

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/185571.html

A court in Tunisia has sentenced ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his wife to 35 years in prison after finding them guilty of embezzlement and other charges.

The conviction in absentia of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Leila Trabelsi came after a day-long trial before the Tunis criminal court.

The couple fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14 after a month-long revolution that sparked a string of other uprisings in the Arab world.

Ben Ali has denied the charges against him and says his departure was part of the plot against him. He said on Monday he had been deceived into leaving the country and denied giving orders for security forces to shoot at protesters demanding that he step down.

A statement issued by his lawyers at the Tunisian court where he was tried in absentia said he had agreed to take a plane to Saudi Arabia to bring his family to safety and had planned to return immediately. The statement added that the aircraft left Saudi Arabia without him after the crew ignored his instructions.

The couple will also have to pay more than $65 million in fines.

The verdict on other charges, including illegal possession of drugs and weapons, will be pronounced on June 30.

Ben Ali is also due to face a separate trial in a military court on charges of manslaughter and conspiracy against the state.

Tunisia's Ben Ali to be tried Monday

Ousted Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his wife Leila Trabelsi keep a low profile in Saudi city of Jeddah. (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/185326.html

Ousted Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who is in Saudi Arabia, is to go on trial as Riyadh is opposing Tunisians' requests to hand him over.

A criminal court in the capital Tunis is to begin hearing the first of about 93 cases brought against the former Tunisian ruler on Monday, AFP reported Sunday.

Tunisia's new authorities are planning to try Ben Ali and his wife on drugs, guns and graft charges in absentia after the discovery of millions of dollars cash and jewellery, weapons and drugs in presidential palaces.

The ousted Tunisian president is to face nearly 90 charges ranging from murder and torture to money laundering, but his French lawyer Jean-Yves Le Borgne has rejected the accusation, slamming the trial as a "masquerade."

Ben Ali is also accused of being involved in the killing of 300 anti-government protesters during the uprising in the North African country.

Ben Ali fled the country on January 14 after a month-long popular uprising against his 23-year rule that later inspired other revolutions across the Arab world.

He is currently living in a villa in the Red Sea city of Jeddah along with his wife Leila Trabelsi and the Saudi government has not responded to Tunisian requests to hand over the former president.

The Tunisian revolution was the first of a string of uprisings against autocratic rulers in the Middle East and North Africa.

An interim government headed by caretaker Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi now rules Tunisia.

A large number of Tunisians are opposed to the new government as it still includes figures from the ousted regime.

Ben Ali trial begins in Tunisia

Tunisian ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/179987.html

A military court in Tunisia has begun the trial of ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, his wife Leila Trabelsi and his Interior Minister Rafik Belhadj Kazem.

The three are accused of plotting against national security as well as inflaming riots and looting in Tunisia, Xinhua reported.

The Tunisian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Saturday that the former head of the police intervention units, the former director of public security, and the previous chief of special services were also arrested for their involvement in the case.

Ben Ali is said to have ordered troops to open fire on peaceful protesters.

Tunisian authorities had earlier prepared 18 legal cases against the deposed president. The cases include voluntary manslaughter and drug trafficking.

Ben Ali and his family fled to Saudi Arabia on January 15 when protests, triggered by economic issues, escalated into mass demonstrations that eventually put an end to his 23-year-long authoritarian rule.

On May 11, a court handed over the file of the former president to the Tunisian military tribunal, in accordance with the current legislation.

Tunisian police attack protesters

Hundreds of Tunisian protesters hold an anti-government rally in central Tunis on Friday

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/178582.html

Tunisian Police have attacked hundreds of anti-government protesters in a second day of mass protests in the capital, killing at least one person and wounding several others.

Police have used teargas to break up a demonstration demanding the resignation of the entire government, a Press TV correspondent reported.

Sources say several cameramen were also hit in the demonstrations in central Tunis.

Friday's protests come after a former interior minister warned that loyalists of the ousted president would mount a coup if what he called “Islamists” win the ballot in an election set for July 23.

The protest is the second of its kind since the popular revolution that ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia as the Tunisian Revolution was gaining momentum.

Ben Ali's 23 years of dictatorship, which was marred by repeated human rights violations and torture, ended in mid-January after weeks of street protests.

The demonstrators are opposed to the new government as it still includes figures from the ousted regime.

The developments come days after ousted president and his wife were charged with plotting against the internal security of the state.

The justice ministry said the charges pressed against Ben Ali and Leila Trabelsi also include inciting disorder, murders and looting. The ex-president also faces over 18 other lawsuits.

Tunisia prime minister resigns

Mohammed Ghannouchi announces his resignation on state television, a month after president Ben Ali flees the country


Rallies calling for a new leadership in Tunisia have continued even after the departure of President Ben Ali [AFP]

Source: Al Jazeera
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/02/201122715234442377.html

Mohammed Ghannouchi, the Tunisian interim prime minister, has announced his resignation on state television.

"I have decided to quit as prime minister," Ghannouchi told a news conference, saying that he thought carefully before taking the decision which was supported by his family.

Ghannouchi has been leading the country since president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali left the country on January 14 following a popular uprising in January.

Ghannouchi was a longtime ally of Ben Ali, and had pledged to guide the country until elections can be held this summer.

Demonstrations have again erupted in the North African country in recent days, and three people were killed in clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Tunis, the capital, on Saturday.

"Three people died from the dozen who were wounded during clashes and were transferred to hospital for treatment," the interior ministry said in a statement..

"Several members of the security forces were wounded to different degrees."

Ben Ali loyalists

Security forces had fired warning shots and tear gas at the anti-government demonstration, and protesters responded by hurling stones, journalists from the AFP news agency said.

An interior ministry official, who declined to be named, told the Reuters news agency that the deaths had occurred after a riot orchestrated by loyalists of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the ousted president.

"Those who were arrested have admitted they were pushed by former Ben Ali officials," he said. "Others said they were paid to do it."

On Friday, tens of thousands of protesters had taken to the streets demanding the resignation of Ghannouchi.

The interior ministry statement said more than 100 people were arrested on Saturday and 88 people had been arrested on Friday.

It blamed the clashes on "agitators" who it said had infiltrated the peaceful demonstrations.

They had used students "as human shields to carry out violent acts, fires aimed at sowing terror among the people and targeting the internal security forces," the statement said.

Ghannouchi announced on Friday that the government will hold elections by mid-July