Tunisian Protests Turn Deadly

Posted on Jan 9, 2011

AP / Hassene Dridi

A man kisses the Tunisian flag during a weekend demonstration in Tunis against high prices and unemployment.

Protests over unemployment have led to the deaths of eight people in Tunisia. The government said police opened fire in self-defense after rioters took to destroying public buildings in the northwestern towns of Thala and Kasserine.—JCL

The BBC:

The deaths occurred in the town of Thala—about 200 km (125 miles) south-west of the capital Tunis—and the nearby town of Kasserine.

An interior ministry statement said that in both towns, police had fired in self-defence after rioters attacked public buildings.

The protests first erupted last month over a lack of freedom and jobs.

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