Tunisia brings in the army to deal with protestors

After demonstrators clash with the police over social inequalities and unemployment, Tunisia's government deploys soldiers to deal with the chaos.

Tunisian soldiers were deployed near the border with Libya on Sunday after clashes with between security forces and demonstrators protesting social inequality.

The tensions in Ben Guerdane [2], around 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border, came as Tunisia prepared to commemorate the ousting of former president Ben Ali [3] on Monday. The uprising in the North African country was sparked by poor living conditions and poverty in the country.

On Saturday, protestors attacked a group of visiting politicians from the ruling Ennahda party [4] and attacked the party’s headquarters in the area.

The local trade union, the UGTT, is preparing to send a delegation from the town to the capital Tunis to discuss the protests with the Islamist government,

Amar Hamdi, a union official in Ben Guerdane was quoted by AFP as saying, "The delegation will be received on Tuesday at 10:00 am in Tunis,"

Protestors are demanding better living conditions, and more employment prospects. Since the uprising two years ago, unemployment in Tunisia has grown [5].

In December last year, protestors in the central city of Silliana clashed with security forces over living conditions, leaving 220 people injured.

Tunisian special forces stand guard outside a mausoleum ravaged by fire in what is thought to have been an arson attack on Sunday in Sidi Bou Said. (AFP PHOTO /FETHI BELAID)