15/01/2011 Responding to Tunisians’ mounting demands for him to concede power, President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled the country in a dramatic end to his 23 years in power for Saudi Arabia, after France rejected a request for his plane to land in Paris.
Saudi Arabia has welcomed Ben Ali and his family a day after they fled an mass uprising in their country.
A statement released by the country's monarchy said the decision to welcome Ben Ali was based on appreciation of the "exceptional circumstances" in Tunisia.
"Out of concern for the exceptional circumstances facing the brotherly Tunisian people and in support of the security and stability of their country... the Saudi government has welcomed President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his family to the kingdom," the statement said.
After abandoning power, Ben Ali boarded a plane with his family and left the country, amid widespread rumors about where he was travelling to.
Sources speculated they were flying to Malta, Libya, France or elsewhere. Eventually, it appeared Ben Ali's plane had been en route to Paris. But French media reported that President Nicolas Sarkozy had rejected a request for his plane to land in Paris.
INTERIM POWER
Before leaving, the ex-president signed a decree handing interim presidential powers to Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannouchi.
"Since the president is temporarily unable to exercise his duties, it has been decided that the prime minister will exercise temporarily the [presidential] duties," Ghannouchi said in a statement broadcast on state television.
As a state of emergency has been declared, Ghannouchi has said he will meet political leaders on Saturday in an attempt to form a government.
Ben Ali, who has ruled Tunisia since coming to power in a bloodless coup in 1987, fled amid violent demonstrations and protesters who rejected his last-minute raft of concessions.
Members of Ben Ali's family, reportedly including some of his in-laws, were arrested as they tried to leave the country.
The unrest in the country began on December 17, after a 26-year-old unemployed graduate set himself on fire in an attempt to commit suicide. Mohammed Bousazizi's act of desperation set off the public's growing frustration with rising inflation and unemployment, and prompted a wave of protests across the country.
Dozens of people have died in recent weeks as unrest has swept the country and security forces have cracked down on demonstrations over unemployment, food price rises and corruption.
SECURITY CHALLENGES
Tensions remained high despite Ben Ali's exit, with protesters reported to be ransacking government buildings in the capital, Tunis, and throughout other provinces. Police have also been accused of participating in looting, and citizens have made appeals for the protection of their property.
Ben Ali's apparent downfall has not calmed all the protesters; there were reports of continued protests outside the interior ministry on Friday night calling for Ghannouchi's immediate resignation.
In his televised address, Ghannouchi vowed to respect the constitution and restore stability and called on citizens to "maintain patriotic spirit ... in order to brave through these difficult moments".
He also vowed to address problems of inflation and unemployment "exactly" as they had recently been announced by Ben Ali.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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