Military forces have been deployed on streets of Ben Gardane Three Tunisian citizens were injured in violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces in the town of Ben Gardane, as anti-government protests returned to Tunisia. The violence, near the border with Libya, came on the day demonstrators stormed security forces headquarters and torched the head office of the ruling el-Nahda party.
Witnesses told Arabstoday that Tunisian military forces were deployed in the town a police station was set on fire. Protesters want the Ras Jedir crossing reopened so that trade with Libya, on which most of the population depend, can start again.
Tunisian Interior Ministry spokesperson Khaled Taroush described the targeting of police stations and security headquarters as \"unjustified,\" adding that the forces are there to protect Tunisian citizens.
The incidents came after the Public Union of Labourers called a strike to protest against the failure of the government to open the cross for trade. They claimed that the government is working to marginalise them and ignoring their right to work.
Meanwhile, the lawyer of Tunisian Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem has told Arabstoday that government authorities are investigating expenses and financial claims made by the minister after he filed a case against blogger Olfa Riahi. The writer has accused Abdessalem of corruption and using public money to stay at the Tunis Sheraton Hotel accompanied by an unidentified woman.