Riadh Bettaieb

Ennahdha Head Rached Ghannouchi Booed at Arab National Congress

Ennahdha leader and founder Rached Ghannouchi was booed by some in the audience after taking the stage at the 23rd Arab National Congress, held in Tunis. The expressions of dissatisfaction came from members of the Baathist movement, who interrupted the event to denounce his presence, shouting and raising signs protesting the leader. Ghannouchi told Tunisian [...]

A Tense Calm Falls on Tripoli After Attack on Airport

The situation in Tripoli remained tense after hundreds of armed militia seized control of the international airport on Monday, forcing passengers from planes and evacuating the terminal. One of Tunisia Live’s founders, Dr. Zied Mhirsi, found himself caught up in the drama as he prepared to board a flight to Tunis. Below is his first-person [...]

Tripoli Airport Seized by Armed Group

The international airport of the Libyan capital Tripoli is closed and gunfire has been reported. Zied Mhirsi, one of the founders of Tunisia Live, is currently near the airport. He said that he could see “large clouds of dark smoke coming from an area near the control tower,” and that all flights had been redirected [...]

Large Fire Destroys Textile Factory in Kairouan

A large blaze set the Mazenan textile factory on fire in Kairouan, a city in central Tunisia, leaving between 150 and 200 employees of the plant wondering what the future now holds for them. According to Tunisian news site, Tunisie Numerique, members of the civil defense forces from Kairouan had to call in reinforcements from [...]

Tunisian President Marzouki Urges China to Play Larger Role in Resolving Syrian Conflict

President Moncef Marzouki urged China to increase pressure on the Syrian government as Bashar al-Assad’s regime continued the violence that has raged in the country for over a year this Thursday. Marzouki made these comments at the Sino-Arab summit in Hammamet amid growing concerns of the failure of UN-Arab League mission led by former UN Secretary [...]

Tunisian Interior Minister Ali Larayedh to Salafists: Police Can Use Live Rounds

Tunisia’s Interior Minister Ali Larayedh used tough language today when addressing recent violence in the Tunisian hinterland from religious hardliners from some Salafist groups in Tunisia. “Those who think that sovereign institutions such as police barracks can be attacked with impunity should know that in such cases the law authorises the use of live rounds,” the [...]

What’s On in Tunis – May 30 – June 5, 2012

The heat in Tunis has cranked up a notch this week. Sticky nights, the hum of mosquitos and the opera of alley cats mean that summer is almost here. With the warm weather, people living downtown head to the coast for the sea breezes, beaches and outdoor cafés. This week, What’s On is no exception. [...]

Amnesty International Asks Tunisian President Not to Extradite Former Libyan Prime Minister

On May 25, Amnesty International sent an official request to Tunisian president Moncef Marzouki regarding the decision to extradite former Libyan Prime Minister Baghadadi Mahmoudi. Amnesty International has asked Marzouki not to consent to the extradition, because the organization believes that Mahmoudi will face the death penalty upon his return to Libya. “Since Amnesty International [...]