Tunisian president sacks government as protests explode into violence

[reorg]

Source: The Guardian

Friday 14 January 2011 15.40 GMT

Tunisia's president has dismissed his entire government and is calling early legislative elections, his spokesman announced today, after days of bloody clashes between security forces and protesters.

The state news agency said president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali would call fresh legislative elections in six months.

The news came after riot police fired teargas at a peaceful demonstration and gunshots were heard in central Tunis, where thousands of people had gathered to demand Ben Ali's immediate resignation.

The Guardian's Angelique Chrisafis, who was among the protesters, tweeted: "Running battles amid extreme violence from police. Protesters being chased on to rooftops. This is turning very, very bad.

"Gunshots are now ringing around us and in the other sidestreets around interior ministry."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/14/tunisian-president-dismisses-government-violence

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Live updates:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/blog/2011/jan/14/tunisia-wikileaks

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Tunisia: State of emergency declared amid protests

A state of emergency has been declared in Tunisia amid protests over corruption, unemployment and inflation.

The decree bans more than three people from gathering together in the open, and imposes a night-time curfew.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12195025

[alp227]

2. at least the anti-government zealots in America haven't resorted to bloody clashes

yet have only been able to use excessive gun talk that led to incidents like last weekend's shooting