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WORLD NEWS Monday 15 January 2018

Tunisia, shaken by protests, marks 7 years since revolution

By BEN BOUAZZA keep its transition peaceful.
Associated Press But six governments later,
TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tuni- loans continue to weigh on
sian authorities announced the economy, extremist at-
plans to boost aid to the tacks have sapped the im-
needy in a bid to placate portant tourism sector, and
protesters whose demon- regions far from the capital,
strations over price hikes where the revolution was
degenerated into days of ignited, remain neglected.
unrest across the North Af- Prime Minister Youssef Cha-
rican nation, which is mark- hed decided to allocate
ing seven years on Sunday 100 million dinars (about
since its long-time auto- $40 million) to help 200,000
cratic ruler was driven into of the neediest families plus
exile. free health care for the
A coalition of political par- jobless, Social Affairs Minis-
ties and associations called ter Mohamed Trabelsi an-
for peaceful protests on nounced after a Saturday
the anniversary to tell the night Cabinet meeting. An
country’s new leaders that aid fund for poor families to
they have failed to fix prob- acquire housing also was
lems that encouraged the created.
revolution and hopes of so- The Popular Front, a coali-
cial and economic justice. tion of leftist parties, called
A new finance law raising the measures “laughable” Family members of Tunisian who died in the revolution seven years ago, stage a protest in Tunis,
Tunisia, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018. European governments warned their citizens about potential rioting
prices of essential goods and in a statement Sunday this weekend, when Tunisia marks seven years since the ouster of longtime strongman President
sparked the unrest. called for protests “until sus- Zine Ben Abidine Ben Ali. Placards reads the name of the people who died in the revolution.
The Tunisian economy has pension of the measures in (AP Photo/Hassene Dridi)
struggled since President the finance law that affect car-burning in some places ficers in five days of unrest put at nearly 780, including
Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali fled citizens’ buying power.” as momentum grew. A po- that began a week ago, 16 religious extremists, for
into exile on Jan. 14, 2011, Frustration was in full view lice crackdown stemmed Interior Ministry spokesman vandalism and looting.
transforming the country last week when small dem- the protests by week’s end. Khlifa Chibani said Friday. President Beji Caid Essebsi
into a budding democ- onstrations erupted around One person died in unrest Dozens of police cars were was visiting on Sunday a
racy that inspired the Arab the country before bal- outside the capital, Tunis, damaged, two police sta- housing project outside Tu-
Spring — then defied it by looning and degenerat- and scores were injured, tions burned and eight oth- nis that had been a site of
being the only country to ing into theft, pillaging and including 97 security of- ers ransacked. Arrests were unrest.q

Bomb placed in car wounds Palestinian in southern Lebanon

By SARAH EL DEEB fied as Mohammed Ham- based in the camps where tion of anonymity because Hamas official in Sidon, as
Associated Press dan, was targeted. Hamas the state has no jurisdic- he was not authorized to saying Hamdan was “one
BEIRUT (AP) — A Palestin- in a statement blamed Is- tion. Rivalry between them speak to the media. of the movement’s cad-
ian member of the militant rael for the “criminal” act often leads to clashes. The The official Lebanon News res.”
group Hamas survived an that wounded Hamdan in largest Palestinian refugee Agency said the explosion The explosion badly dam-
attempt on his life Sunday his leg. camp is located in Sidon. went off as Hamdan was aged the vehicle, causing
after a bomb planted in It is not clear what role The Lebanese military said getting into the car. a large fire and sending
his car in southern Leba- Hamdan plays in the mili- the explosion was caused Sidon Mayor Mohammed black smoke rising above
non on Sunday detonated, tant group, which has of- by a 500-gram (18 ounces) Saudi said Hamdan was the port city, about 27 miles
wounding him, the Leba- fices and members living bomb that included ball undergoing surgery at a lo- south of the capital Beirut.
nese military and the group in Lebanon. There are over bearings. A Lebanese se- cal hospital. He was slightly The explosion caused some
said. 147,000 Palestinians living curity official said the bomb injured, according to Sha- damage to nearby build-
It was not immediately clear in Lebanon, most of them was placed under the car naa. ings and cars. Security forc-
who carried out the bomb- in the country’s 12 refugee seat. The official, who iden- Shehab, a Gaza-based es cordoned off the area
ing in the city of Sidon or camps. tified Hamdan as a Hamas Hamas news agency, and firefighters put out the
why the Palestinian, identi- Several armed factions are member, spoke on condi- quoted Ayman Shanaa, a blaze.q