Embattled Tunisian leader: No more deadly force against protestors

TUNIS – A TV announcement was made by Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on Thursday, Jan. 13, his third since unrest began, ordering his nation’s security forces to stop firing on demonstrators as the country’s economic turmoil has continued and protests reached the capital for the first time since they started late last year.

Tunisian people living in France hold the Tunisian national flag as they demonstrate against Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in Marseille, January 12, 2011. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

Ben Ali also said that he would not seek another term that would be his sixth since he took over in 1987, admitting that he had mishandled the growing protests in the north African country telling his people “I hear you now.”

In addition, the 74-year-old leader made a promise that he would allow “total freedom of information” and to protect freedom of the Internet after he was criticized by foreign countries. Tunisian government officials had been accused of hacking Twitter accounts of citizens who described events in the country.

The speech came after days of rioting in the country that left dozens dead. Rafik Belhadj Kacem was replaced as interior and local development minister by Ahmed Friaa after he was held responsible for the crisis.  He is accused of giving a command authorizing excessive police force against protesters.

Ben Ali has been the leader of Tunisia for 23 years and has been asked by his party to stand for president in the 2014 elections, but said that he didn’t intend to do away with a Constitutional age limit of 75 for candidates, which he would surpass. The number was amended from 70 years to 75 in 2002.

“I say no to being president for life and I refuse to alter the age limit set by the constitution,” he added, speaking to Tunisians.

Assafir, a leading daily Lebanese newspaper, reported that Ben Ali’s son-in-law and two daughters both fled to Canada, fueling sentiment that his regime may be on the verge of collapsing.

A total of at least 66 people have been killed according to the Paris-based International Federation of Human Rights, during the government crackdown against protests that began in mid-December. Government officials have only acknowledged 21 deaths.

Ben Ali’s address was a stern warning to government forces against using lethal force against those who take to the streets to demonstrate. He also said that he had been “wrong” in his analysis of the country’s problems and said that an examination would take place in order to establish “each and everyone’s responsibilities.”

Earlier, Ben Ali fired his Chief of Staff and his political advisors, and sacked the governor of the region of Sidi Bouzid where the protests had begun, as Ben Ali’s government struggled to respond to the political crisis the protests provoked.

Three ministers and two governors were also removed for reasons relating to the popular uprising, including Oussama Romdhani, the communications minister.

Ben Ali had previously placed blame for the violence on foreign interference.

A Middle East advisor to former U.S. President George W. Bush and leading neo-conservative Elliot Abrams said on his blog with the Council on Foreign Relations that Tunisia was “an unimportant country”, but said that the fallout from the demonstrations could be dangerous for other Arab nations.

Unrest has also spread to neighboring Algeria as at least five people were killed and hundreds injured in rioting over rising food prices and economic turmoil.

Only three months ago, Algeria’s economic policies were praised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other Western-organized financial institutions.

Tunisia’s rallies began over the poor results of economic policies by the Western-backed autocratic ruler Ben Ali. The country’s policies had also been previously hailed as an economic success story by Western banks and investors before the economic turmoil began.