Plot uncovered in Tunisia as unity talks held

[Catherina]

Source: One India News

Plot uncovered in Tunisia as unity talks held

Monday, January 17, 2011, 1:15


Tunis, Jan 16 (AFP) Tunisian authorities todaydenounced a plot against the state by backers of oustedstrongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali as talks on national unitygot under way while heavy gunfire broke out here.


Officials said they had arrested the general in charge of Ben Ali''s security apparatus, Ali Seriati, for plotting against the new leadership amid fears of a backlash by supporters of the deposed president.


Ben Ali's nephew, Kais Ben Ali, was meanwhile arrested earlier in the day along with 10 others in the central town of Msaken -- the Ben Ali family''s ancestral home -- overnight for "shooting at random" from police cars during the night.

The developments came as Tunisia''s main parties held talks on forming a national unity government following the abrupt departure after 23 years in power of Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia after a wave of protests against his regime.

In central Tunis, security forces exchanged fire with unidentified attackers hidden inside buildings, AFP reporters said. The shooting kicked off after an exchange of fire oustide the headquarters of the main opposition party.

Around 1,500 protesters meanwhile held a peaceful rally in the town of Regueb in which they slammed the political talks in the capital saying the new government would not be truly democratic, a local trade union leader said.

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