Tunisia's UGTT Warns of Public Sector Strike

People walk in the center of Tunis, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, Tunisia, April 29, 2021. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
People walk in the center of Tunis, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, Tunisia, April 29, 2021. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
TT

Tunisia's UGTT Warns of Public Sector Strike

People walk in the center of Tunis, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, Tunisia, April 29, 2021. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
People walk in the center of Tunis, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, Tunisia, April 29, 2021. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

Tunisia's powerful UGTT union warned on Wednesday that public sector workers may go on strike to reject a package of economic reforms proposed by the government that it said included privatizations, wage freezes and cuts to subsidies.

"The Department of Public Sector and Public Service (within the UGTT) approved the principle of a general strike", UGTT head Nourredine Taboubi told a union meeting in Bizerte, adding that the union's high command would meet soon.

Tunisia in talks with the International Monetary Fund for a rescue package to avert a crisis in its public finances.



Arab League Warns Against ‘Strife’ in Syria

The Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Arab League Warns Against ‘Strife’ in Syria

The Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Arab League has warned against “strife” in Syria, saying it was “following with concern the events taking place in several Syrian cities and areas with the aim of igniting the sparks of conflict.”

It said Thursday that it “rejects the Iranian statements aimed at fueling strife among the Syrian people,” according to a statement from the secretariat.

It did not specify which statements it was referring to.

Syria's newly appointed foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, said on Tuesday that Iran must respect the will of the Syrian people and Syria's sovereignty and security.

"We warn them against spreading chaos in Syria and we hold them accountable for the repercussions of the latest remarks," he said.

Tehran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei lashed out on Thursday against unspecified media reports on Iran “interfering in Syria’s internal affairs” as “baseless.”

Iran was committed to “supporting the territorial integrity and national unity of Syria and the formation of an inclusive political system,” he said in a statement.

On Sunday, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called on Syrian youth to "stand with firm determination against those who have orchestrated and brought about this insecurity.”

Khamenei forecast "that a strong and honorable group will also emerge in Syria because today Syrian youth have nothing to lose,” calling the country unsafe.