Hundreds of Tunisians Protest against Police Abuses

Hundreds of Tunisians marched in the capital on Saturday to protest against police abuses. (AP file photo)
Hundreds of Tunisians marched in the capital on Saturday to protest against police abuses. (AP file photo)
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Hundreds of Tunisians Protest against Police Abuses

Hundreds of Tunisians marched in the capital on Saturday to protest against police abuses. (AP file photo)
Hundreds of Tunisians marched in the capital on Saturday to protest against police abuses. (AP file photo)

Hundreds of Tunisians marched in the capital on Saturday to protest against police abuses they say are endangering freedoms won in the 2011 revolution.

Hundreds of riot police confronted the demonstrators, leading to scuffles. Some protesters threw bottles, while police struck some demonstrators with batons.

There have been near daily protests since the mid-January, the anniversary of Tunisia's revolution that sparked uprisings across the region in 2011, known as the so-called Arab Spring.

Amid sporadic clashes, police have arrested more than a thousand people during demonstrations over the past two weeks against financial inequality, the marginalization of poor areas and what protesters say have been heavy-handed police tactics.

A young man died in the central city of Sbeitla last week, which his family blamed on him being hit by a teargas canister.

Amnesty International on Thursday called on Tunisian authorities to investigate the death.

In Tunis, hundreds joined a protest in the center of the capital with scuffles erupting as police blocked the way to the main Avenue Habib Bourguiba, where the Interior Ministry building is located.

Some protesters threw bottles at police, while about 10 officers used batons to beat them back and stop them accessing the avenue, a Reuters witness said.

Some demonstrators held signs that read, "Police everywhere, justice nowhere", while others chanted slogans including "Down with police rule" and "Release the nation's sons (from detention)".

"They want to steal the principles won since the revolution," said Mohammed Smida, a protester who compared Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi to former ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, who was ousted in 2011 after almost 25 years in power.

"Today our right to protest is threatened by the new Ben Ali," Smida said.

Mired in a political and economic crisis worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic, Tunisians are angered at a political class seen as locked in power struggles and disconnected from the suffering of ordinary people, who are facing spiraling prices and steep unemployment.

The International Monetary Fund last week encouraged Tunisia to set up a reform plan to "bring economic imbalances back to a sustainable trajectory".



UN Mission Affirms Priority to Unify Libya’s Military

Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, met on Thursday with General Mohammed Al-Haddad (UNSMIL) 
Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, met on Thursday with General Mohammed Al-Haddad (UNSMIL) 
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UN Mission Affirms Priority to Unify Libya’s Military

Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, met on Thursday with General Mohammed Al-Haddad (UNSMIL) 
Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, met on Thursday with General Mohammed Al-Haddad (UNSMIL) 

Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, held talks on Thursday with General Mohammed Al-Haddad, Chief of General Staff of the Libyan Army.

The two officials discussed the current developments in the country and ways to unify the military, which is divided between the west and east of Libya.

“Tetteh and Al-Haddad emphasized that the unification of the military should remain a priority for authorities across Libya, as the security and stability of the country are crucial for any political process to move forward,” UNSMIL said in a statement.

They also explored how the UN Mission can effectively support Libya's efforts towards unifying military institutions, enhancing border security, and addressing other key areas of national security, it added.

In Tripoli, Tetteh also met with Acting Libyan Interior Minister, Imad Trabelsi.

The two sides exchanged views on the current situation and on how the Mission can support Libyan efforts in enhancing security provision, de-escalating tensions, and promoting dialogue between authorities and communities.

They also discussed the Ministry’s key role in election security and in contributing to a safe environment conducive to an effective political process.

Later, Tetteh and Secretary-General Deputy Special Representative, Stephanie Koury, met with the Libyan Minister of State for Women’s Affairs, Houria Al-Tormal, to discuss the importance of women’s inclusion in the political process and their role in decision-making.

Tetteh reaffirmed UNSMIL’s commitment to supporting the Libyan government’s efforts to promote women’s empowerment programs and ensure their meaningful participation in achieving sustainable development and stability in Libya.

Separately, Director General of the Development and Reconstruction Fund of Libya, Belqasim Haftar, met in Rome, with Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, to discuss ways to develop joint cooperation between the two sides in the fields of development and reconstruction. Talks focused mainly on the sectors of health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, transportation and air freight and on resuming flights between Libya and Italy.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of the Government of National Stability, Osama Hammad, issued on Thursday a directive prohibiting all ministers, deputy ministers, and heads of public institutions from sharing or disseminating any news related to public affairs without prior approval from the Communications and Media Department at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The decision came after the controversy caused when Libya’s Justice Minister issued a statement on his social media account, affirming the release of Hannibal Gaddafi.

Hannibal, the son of the late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, has been detained for years in Lebanon.

The Prime Minister stressed that ministry-affiliated media outlets should strictly focus on covering the daily activities of their respective ministries while ensuring continuous oversight from the PM’s Office to maintain accuracy and prevent the spread of misinformation.