TUNISIAN PRESIDENT FLEES AMID UNREST

Tunisian protesters call on president to resign – in pictures | World news | guardian.co.uk

President flees amid unrest in Tunisia

Protesters in Tunisia Bring Down the Government – Photo Essays – TIME

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Tension Grips Tunisia’s Capital After Leader Flees

Tension in Tunis: Tunisian President Ben Ali Leaves Country – TIME

As dusk fell on this gracious, tree-lined capital, Tunis was a city under siege — but the man who had ruled Tunisia with an iron fist for 23 years was gone, driven out by a popular revolt that may rock the entire region. I had landed in Tunis just moments before President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali fled the country, prompting declaration of a state of emergency and closure of the airport….

Photos: Protests bring change in Tunisia

Tunisia protests: Tunisia president flees in face of protests – latimes.com

Tunisia protests and deaths continue amid government moves

Tunisia protests: Tunisia protests and deaths continue amid government moves – latimes.com

Resentment in Tunisia over rising unemployment has turned into rage against the government of President Zine el Abidine ben Ali after a crackdown that has reportedly left as many as 50 people dead.

Reporting from Tunis, Tunisia — Security forces and tanks streamed into the center of the capital, and 11 people were reported killed in clashes across Tunisia on Wednesday as authorities scrambled to quell mounting anti-government protests….

Tunisia protest: Tunisia protests force President Zine el Abidine ben Ali from power – latimes.com

Tunisia protests force president from power

Tunisia’s prime minister announces that he is replacing President Zine el Abidine ben Ali, who flees the country after weeks of massive protests over widespread unemployment and corruption under his 23-year regime.

Reporting from Tunis, Tunisia — Weeks of violent protests fueled by corruption, widespread unemployment and a lack of liberty toppled one of the Arab world’s most entrenched leaders, who fled this North African country Friday after 23 years of rule.

President Zine el Abidine ben Ali handed power to his prime minister, Mohamed Ghannouchi. Authorities established a curfew across the nation of 10 million people, and the prime minister promised broad consultations starting Saturday on political and economic reforms…

Tunisians drive leader from power in mass uprising – Yahoo! News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110115/ap_on_bi_ge/af_tunisia_riots

By ELAINE GANLEY and BOUAZZA BEN BOUAZZA, Associated Press – 35 mins ago

TUNIS, Tunisia – After 23 years of iron-fisted rule, the president of Tunisia was driven from power Friday by violent protests over soaring unemployment and corruption. Virtually unprecedented in modern Arab history, the populist uprising sent an ominous message to authoritarian governments that dominate the region.

The office of Saudi King Abdullah confirmed early Saturday that ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his family had landed in Saudi Arabia, after several hours of mystery over his whereabouts. “As a result of the Saudi kingdom’s respect for the exceptional circumstances the Tunisian people are going through, and with its wish for peace and security to return to the people of Tunisia, we have welcomed” him, the statement said.

Tunisia violence spreads to chic Hammamet resort

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Game Over – Yahoo! News Photos

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