A Tunisian military court sentenced former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in absentia to life in prison for his role in the deaths of protesters in several towns during last year’s uprising that pushed him from power.
The ruling handed down late yesterday was the second in the same day by a military court against Ben Ali, the official TAP news agency reported. Earlier, another military court sentenced him to 20 years in prison for inciting violence that led to the death of four protesters in the town of Ouardanine. The demonstrators were trying to stop his nephew from leaving the country.