Tunisia’s government says it has arrested one of its nationals believed to be linked to the September-11 attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya. Interior Ministry spokesman Tarrouch Khaled said Wednesday that 28-year-old Ali Harzi was in custody in Tunis. He gave no other details. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans died in the […]
Tunisian Man Held In Connection With Attack On US Embassy In Libya
Tunisia Agrees to June Elections in Islamist-Secular Compromise
Tunisia’s Islamist-led Cabinet has agreed to hold presidential and parliamentary elections next June as part of a compromise aimed at balancing governmental powers between the president and lawmakers. In a statement, the Cabinet led by the Islamic Ennahda Movement said general elections will be held on June 23, with a presidential runoff scheduled for July […]
Tunisia Extradites Gadhafi’s Last Prime Minister Back to Libya for Trial
Tunisia extradited a jailed former Libyan prime minister back to Libya Sunday, setting up a possible showdown among top Tunisian leaders who disagreed on whether to send him back. Tunisian authorities arrested Al-Baghdadi Al-Mahmoudi last year when he fled into Tunisia from Libya. He was Moammar Gadhafi’s last prime minister before the dictator’s government collapsed. […]
Tunisia’s Ousted President Sentenced to Life in Prison
A Tunisian court has sentenced ousted Tunisian leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali to life in prison for his role in the killing of protesters during last year’s uprising that triggered Arab Spring demonstrations across the Middle East. The court in Kef sentenced the former leader in absentia Wednesday because he is living in exile in […]
Tunisians Mark First Anniversary of Ben Ali’s Ouster
Tunisians on Saturday marked the first anniversary of the ousting of longtime President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who stepped down following an uprising that sparked revolutions across the Arab world. Thousands of people celebrated by marching peacefully in the capital, Tunis, waving the Tunisian flag and voicing approval of their freedom from Mr. Ben Ali’s […]
Tunisians Rally on Anniversary of Uprising
Thousands of Tunisians rallied Saturday to celebrate the first anniversary of the popular uprising that sent the former president into exile, ending decades of dictatorship, and sparked revolutions across the Arab world. The crowd gathered peacefully in the town of Sidi Bouzid, one year after a young fruitseller, Mohamed Bouazizi, set himself afire in an […]
Islamists, Secularists Protest Outside Tunisian Parliament
Thousands of Tunisian Islamists and secularists gathered near the parliament building in the capital, Tunis, Saturday in rival protests. Separated by barriers and police, the two sides shouted slogans and waved flags outside the Bardo Palace where a new constitution is being drawn by lawmakers. The latest round of protests was sparked when a group […]
Tunisian Forces Fire in Air During Protest
Tunisian security forces on Wednesday fired into the air and used tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters in the town of Kasserine, about 300 kilometers southwest of the capital, Tunis. Local officials said demonstrators hurled stones at a local prison and surrounded it. They said protesters were angry because they felt that the country’s […]
Tunisia’s New Assembly Holds Inaugural Session
Tunisia inaugurated its new Constituent Assembly Tuesday following a power-sharing deal between moderate Islamists and secular parties. The 217-member assembly began work almost a month after the tiny North African country held its first democratic elections and 10 months after a popular revolt ousted longtime president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali. The first tasks were […]
Tunisia’s New Assembly Holds Historic First Session
Tunisia’s democratically elected constitutional assembly held its opening session Tuesday, 10 months after a popular revolt ended years of dictatorship and sparked similar uprisings across the Arab world. Lawmakers tasked with drafting a new constitution sang the national anthem and were joined by senior officials in the incoming coalition government and ministers in the outgoing […]