Tunisia protests against Ben Ali

Tunisia protests against Ben Ali

Ben Ali

        At least 219 people died during the protests that toppled Tunisia's President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali last month.Team leader Bacre Waly Ndiaye said this figure included 72 people who died during prison riots.The government previously said that 78 people had died, although the opposition said the figure was higher.Mr Ndiaye was speaking at the end of a week-long human rights team investigation into the unrest.Mainly Muslim Tunisia has one of the largest Jewish communities in North Africa.Amid the anti-government demonstrations which began in December, there have been occasional outbreaks of looting and violence

         After President Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia in January, a unity government was sworn in but some protests continue, by demonstrators who want anyone linked to the former regime to leave power. Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi has promised elections within six months.On Monday, the European Union announced it had frozen the assets of the former leader and his wife. (  Ref: BBC News)

 Prof. John Kurakar