Tuesday, February 01, 2011

Tunisia Rebellion Against Ben Ali left 200 Dead, Says United Nations Report

1 February 2011
Last updated at 10:00 ET

Tunisia protests against Ben Ali left 200 dead, says UN

A month of protests forced Tunisia's long-time leader from power

At least 219 people died during the protests that toppled Tunisia's President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali last month, a UN team has said.

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.

He added that the figure was not final and the UN would continue its investigations.

Separately, a synagogue has been set on fire in the southern city of Ghabes, a spokesman for the Jewish community says.

"I believe those who did it want to create divisions between Jews and Muslims in Tunisia who have lived for decades in peace," Perez Trabelsi told the Reuters news agency.

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.

The toppling of Mr Ben Ali after 23 years in power helped inspire the current anti-government protests in Egypt.

On Monday, the European Union announced it had frozen the assets of the former leader and his wife.

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