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Tunisia imposes curfew as unrest grows | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Tunisia has imposed a nationwide overnight curfew in response to growing unrest over unemployment as protests across the country descended into vandalism in several cities. | Tunisia has imposed a nationwide overnight curfew in response to growing unrest over unemployment as protests across the country descended into vandalism in several cities. |
The curfew from 8pm to 5am begins on Friday because the attacks on public and private property “represent a danger to the country and its citizens,” the interior ministry said. | The curfew from 8pm to 5am begins on Friday because the attacks on public and private property “represent a danger to the country and its citizens,” the interior ministry said. |
On Thursday night, police stations came under attack and security officers used teargas to repel protesters armed with stones and molotov cocktails. | On Thursday night, police stations came under attack and security officers used teargas to repel protesters armed with stones and molotov cocktails. |
In housing projects on the outskirts of the capital, Tunis, roving groups of young people attacked a bank and looted stores and warehouses. | In housing projects on the outskirts of the capital, Tunis, roving groups of young people attacked a bank and looted stores and warehouses. |
Tunisia’s prime minister, Habib Essid, is cutting short a visit to France to deal with the protests, which began on Sunday after a young man who lost out on a government job climbed a transmission tower in protest and was electrocuted. | Tunisia’s prime minister, Habib Essid, is cutting short a visit to France to deal with the protests, which began on Sunday after a young man who lost out on a government job climbed a transmission tower in protest and was electrocuted. |
Related: Tunisia: 'Nothing’s changed since the revolution' – in pictures | Related: Tunisia: 'Nothing’s changed since the revolution' – in pictures |
Tunisia’s unemployment stands at about 15%, but among young people, the rate is 30%. | Tunisia’s unemployment stands at about 15%, but among young people, the rate is 30%. |
Leila Omri, the mother of an unemployed graduate in Kasserine, said: “Are we not Tunisians too? It’s been four years I’ve been struggling. We’re not asking for much, but we’re fighting for our youth. We struggled so much for them.” | Leila Omri, the mother of an unemployed graduate in Kasserine, said: “Are we not Tunisians too? It’s been four years I’ve been struggling. We’re not asking for much, but we’re fighting for our youth. We struggled so much for them.” |
Tunisia has been in a state of emergency since a suicide bombing in November killed 12 members of the presidential guard in the heart of Tunis, an attack that capped an unusually violent year for the country. That bombing, as well as attacks earlier in the year at the Bardo museum and in the tourist beach town of Sousse, were claimed by Islamic State. | |
The suicide five years ago of an unemployed young person in Kasserine set off a popular uprising that overthrew Tunisia’s longtime ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and eventually gave rise to the Arab Spring. |