AhlulBayt News Agency

source : Press TV
Tuesday

1 February 2011

8:30:00 PM
223909

Tunisia police arrest Ben Ali henchman

Tunisia's security forces have arrested the country's former Interior Minister Rafik Belhaj Kacem and taken him into custody to be questioned.

(AhlulBayt News Agency) - "Kacem will spend a renewable period of three days under arrest for interrogation," Tunisia's incumbent Interior Minister Farhat Rajhi told the country's privately-owned Hannibal TV on Tuesday.

Kacem led efforts to crush the revolution, which sought an end to the 23-year-long authoritarian rule of Tunisian ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The former official was sacked by deposed Tunisian president in early December in an attempt to quell the anti-government protests.

Rajhi also noted that 42 senior security officials, including the heads of general security and presidential security, have been replaced following the breakout of violence and the departure of 74-year-old Ben Ali from power.

"There is a conspiracy against state security,” Rajhi said.

Meanwhile, head of Tunisia's presidential guard Ali Seriati and 50 others have been arrested by the army over accusations of plans to foment social unrest.

"An investigation has been launched against the head of the presidential guard and a group of his accomplices for plotting against the security of the state," the official TAP news agency reported Tuesday.

At least 147 people were killed and 510 injured during the Tunisian 'Jasmine Revolution' that unseated Ben Ali last month, according to the United Nations.

On January 14, Ben Ali fled the North African country to the Saudi port city of Jeddah.

Riots and protests broke out in Tunisia following the self-immolation of a 26-year-old fruit vendor, identified as Muhammad Bouazizi, who set himself on fire after police confiscated his merchandise.

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