Four killed in clashes in Tunisia

PARIS/TUNIS - At least four people died in clashes in Tunisia, a hospital spokesman said Sunday.

More than a dozen others were injured in the fresh outbreak of violence, which took place late Saturday in the northwestern town of El-Kef, about 175 km southwest of capital Tunis.

The trouble started after a police chief fired at a crowd of protesters, who were demanding his resignation for earlier allegedly beating a demonstrator.

The angry citizens responded by throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at the police station.

The police chief was subsequently arrested, according to a statement from the interior ministry.

Last week the UN said that at least 219 people died during and in the immediate aftermath of Tunisia’s month-long uprising, which culminated in the ouster of president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.

The protests started in the centre of the country over unemployment and rising prices and gradually swelled into a popular revolt. Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia.

A government of national unity has been appointed to manage Tunisia’s transition from a police state to a democracy.