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Sunday, July 17, 2011

Where It Started

Back in Tunisia, all is not calm:

Tunisian police fired tear gas Friday to break up an anti-government protest in the capital, with demonstrators accusing the authorities of using violence to end their peaceful action.

After Friday prayers, hundreds of protestors joined a sit-in near the seat of government in Tunis' Kasbah neighbourhood to demand the resignation of the interior and justice ministers.

The demonstrators were clamouring for the judiciary's full independence and the prosecution of those responsible for the deadly repression of Tunisia's democratic uprising earlier this year.

If our diplomats are earning their keep, they are working to make Tunisia an Arab Spring success story. They aren't large or pivotal, but they were the first and it would be nice if it didn't just end up being musical chairs for those in power to play.

But I haven't read much about Tunisia lately, so I don't know if this is a sign that the ruling elite is trying to carry on as before or whether the protesters are being unreasonable.