Death toll rises as Tunisian president promises change
January 14th, 2011 - 2:47 am ICT by BNO NewsTUNIS (BNO NEWS) — At least eleven more people were killed in Tunisia on Wednesday as violent demonstrations continued countrywide, officials said on Thursday as President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali has promised changes.
The Tunisian government has imposed a daily 8.00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. local time curfew for the greater Tunis metropolitan area until further notice after protests reached the capital of Tunis on Wednesday. Despite the curfew, at least two people were killed during overnight protests in Tunis.
In other areas of the country on Wednesday and Thursday, at least nine others were killed as a result of violent demonstrations. On Thursday, police fired tear gas at around 300 stone-throwing protesters in Tunis.
The unemployment protests continued after Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi announced early Wednesday the release of demonstrators arrested since the beginning of the riots, and the establishment of two inquiry commissions to investigate offenses committed during the clashes and corruption cases.
Ghannouchi also called on Wednesday on the parliament to implement measures announced by the president on Monday, which included the creation of 300,000 new jobs to ease the protests.
The country’s President, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, on Thursday also pledged in a televised address to lower the prices of sugar, milk and bread. Further, Ben Ali promised more press freedom and an end to the blocking of Internet websites.
Meanwhile, Ben Ali also ordered security forces to stop using their weapons against protesters. This order came a day after the United Nations Human Rights Chief urged the Tunisian government to stop the use of excessive force against demonstrators, and to start credible investigations.
Ben Ali’s current term as president expires in 2014, when he will be 77, but the leader pledged during his address to uphold a law which puts an age limit of 75 years on presidential candidates. This law would prevent him from re-election.
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- Tunisian minister quits - Mar 01, 2011
- Interpol issues global alert for Ben Ali - Jan 27, 2011
- Tunisia issues international arrest warrant for ousted president - Jan 26, 2011
- Egyptian uprising inspired by Tunisia's upheaval - Feb 12, 2011
- 'Tunisian protests serve as red flag for Arab autocracies' - Jan 16, 2011
- UN: At least 219 died in Tunisia uprising - Feb 02, 2011
- Switzerland to help Tunisia recover Ben Ali's assets - Apr 19, 2011
- Tunisia's interim government reshuffled - Jan 28, 2011
- EU commissioner expresses concern over violence in Tunisia - Jan 11, 2011
- Tunisian ousted President Ben Ali accused of plotting against national security - May 05, 2011
- Tunisia may opt for government reshuffle - Jan 27, 2011
- Tunisians call for Ben Ali's extradition - Apr 16, 2011
- Tunisian PM's website hacked - Apr 09, 2012
Tags: bno, clashes, corruption cases, curfew, death toll, demonstrators, excessive force, further notice, internet websites, new jobs, presidential candidates, press freedom, riots, tear gas, tunis, tunisian government, tunisian president, violent demonstrations, zine el abidine, zine el abidine ben ali