Thursday, January 27, 2011

Interpol issued an alert to stop Ben Ali and six of his relatives

The noose is tightening around the deposed president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Interpol said Wednesday that his office had issued an alert Tunis global destination for its 188 members for the location and arrest of former President, and six of his relatives. The alert issued by the organization of international police cooperation, headquartered in Lyon, France, includes "the names and other information" on wanted persons, Interpol said in a statement.

This review asks Interpol members to "seek, locate and arrest Mr. Ben Ali and his family for their extradition to Tunis." In the morning, the Tunisian justice announced that it had issued an international arrest warrant against former president and his wife Leila Trabelsi for "illegal acquisition of movable and immovable property" and "illicit transfer of currency abroad.

The Tunisian authorities had sought help from Interpol for the arrest of the couple. Benhassen Trabelsi, brother of Leila Trabelsi, also a fugitive, is also targeted by lawsuits under the same charges. Eight other family members Trabelsi, arrested in Tunisia, are also pursued in this investigation.

President Ben Ali has fled Jan. 14 Tunisia, under the pressure of an unprecedented popular revolt, and found refuge in Saudi Arabia. His wife, Leila Trabelsi, hated by the people for putting the country in its grip, has also left the country at a date and a destination unknown. Switzerland and France, which opened an investigation for corruption, have recently decided to block any funds belonging to présidentBen Ali.

The European Union has also adopted the principle of a freeze on assets of the former president. The Tunisian Minister of Justice has also said that eight members of the presidential guard, including former security chief of President Ben Ali, General Ali Seriate were pursued under a separate judicial investigation on abuses against the population.

The Tunisian courts had already announced the opening of a judicial order on January 16 including General Seriate for "plotting against the internal security of the state, incitement to commit crimes and to arm themselves, and incitement to disorder" . Key man for the safety of the ousted president, the general had been arrested at Ben Gardane in the south, while trying to flee to Libya, had then said a source quoted by official news agency Tunis Afrique Presse.

The transitional authorities regard him as the sponsor of the campaign of terror waged by armed militiamen loyal to former president in the days immediately following his fall. These men had terrorized for several days engaged in atrocities against the population and drawing on members of the security forces in Tunis and other cities.

In a third case, twenty-five people, all close to Ben Ali and his wife are charged with "illegal export of currency," said the minister of justice. A fourth and final investigation concerns nine people, the first inner circle of Ben Ali and his wife. They are charged with "introduction, use and trade of arms and ammunition without a license." Arrest warrants were issued against those persons who are fugitives.

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