Tunisian police kill three protesters

Sun Feb 27, 2011

Fresh clashes between protesters and security forces in Tunisia have left at least three people dead and nine others injured as demonstrations continue against the country's interim government.

Violent clashes broke out late Saturday after Tunisian security forces used tear gas to disperse thousands of pro-democracy protesters that had gathered in front of the Interior Ministry in the capital Tunis, Xinhua reported.

According to witnesses, shots were exchanged between protesters and police in central Tunis until late in the evening. Helicopters were also seen circling over the Tunisian capital.

"Go home... I'll show you what democracy is," one of the police officers was heard shouting through a cloud of tear gas.

More than 100 people have been arrested following acts of arson and destruction in the city center, the ministry said.

Protesters demand the resignation of Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi and insist that they will not tolerate any members of the ruling party in the post-revolution government.

Ghannouchi has said that he will resign within six months and after holding elections, but protesters fear that their revolution may be hijacked by those still loyal to the former president's oppressive policies.

On Friday, tens of thousands of Tunisians took to the streets, calling on Ghanouchi to step down and hand over power to a civilian government.

Friday's demonstration has been the biggest rally since the ouster of former ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali last month.

The revolution that ousted Ben Ali after 23 years in power has ignited other popular revolutions in North African and Middle Eastern countries.

One of them has so far led to the downfall of long-time Egyptian ruler Hosni Mubarak.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/167264.html.