French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine on Tuesday urged the Tunisian government to find a humanitarian solution to a journalist who went on hunger strike since April 3rd protesting the seizure of his passport.
"We interfered several times and in different ways at the Tunisian authorities urging them to find a rapid and humanitarian end to this regrettable situation," Vedrine told the national assembly.
Tawfiq Ben Brick, a correspondent for several western media organizations, went on hunger strike protesting what he called harassment by the Tunisian authorities and the seizure of his passport.
He said that he would continue with his hunger strike if his brother is not released from jail in Tunisia.
Vedrine called for greater openness in Tunisia, saying that France would support Tunisia in any initiative towards openness.
"France expresses the hope to see political openness that goes along the success related to the economic and social development of Tunisian over the past 10 years," he said – (Agencies)
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