Tunisia issues int'l warrant for ousted president

[January 26, 2011]  TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) -- Tunisia's justice minister says the country has issued an international arrest warrant for ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The minister, Lazhar Karoui Chebbi, says charges against Ben Ali include taking money out of the country illegally.

The minister also said Wednesday that more than 11,000 prisoners escaped from the North African nation's prisons during the unrest that overthrew Ben Ali. That is about a third of the country's prison population. About 1,500 prisoners have returned behind bars.

Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on Jan. 14 after 23 years in power, pushed out by weeks of deadly protests driven by anger over joblessness, corruption and repression.

[Associated Press]

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