[ 2011-04-14 ]

The government has called on Interpol to help arrest Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Tunisia files cases against Ben Ali
president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, including
"voluntary manslaughter" and "drug trafficking",
the state TAP news agency reported.

The revelation was made by Justice Minister Lazhar
Karoui Chebbi in an interview aired on state
television on Wednesday, TAP said.

Other charges include "conspiring against the
state" and "drug use."

The news agency quoted Chebbi as saying a total of
44 legal cases had been prepared by his ministry
against Ben Ali, his family and his inner circle.

Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia after he was toppled
by mass protests on January 14 after 23 years in
power. Several members of his family and security
and some of his closest allies were detained
shortly after he was forced out.

The caretaker authorities, trying to assert their
authority and gain legitimacy in the eyes of
protesters who forced the transition, are
attacking the vestiges of his long rule.

Chebbi said the Justice Ministry was exploring
legal ways to extradite Ben Ali from Saudi Arabia
to face trial. He gave no further details.

Tunisia announced on January 26 that it had asked
Interpol to help arrest Ben Ali, his wife Leila
Trabelsi and other members of the family who fled
the country during the uprising.

The interim authorities appointed a new government
on March 7 and disbanded the state security
apparatus, notorious for human rights abuses under
Ben Ali.

The former president's brother, Slah Ben Ali, was
arrested on Sunday in the city of Sousse.

Source - Aljazeera and agencies

... go Back