Friday, 22 January 2016

Tunisia protests: President vows to end 'ordeal' of unemployed

Unemployed graduates shout slogans during a demonstration urging the government to provide them with job opportunities, in Tunis, Tunisia, 22 January 2016.

  •  More than a third of young people in Tunisia are without work
Tunisia's president says he understands frustration that has led to protests over unemployment, but instability could be exploited by extremists.
A curfew began on Friday evening after "attacks against public and private property", the interior
ministry said.
Protests over youth unemployment have spread from the northern region of Kasserine to towns and cities.
In a televised speech, President Beji Caid Essebsi said the country would "get out of this ordeal".
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In his first address since protests began almost a week ago, Mr Essebsi said on Friday night: "There is no dignity without work. You can't tell someone who has nothing to eat to stay patient."
He said there was a risk that the Islamic State group in neighbouring Libya "finds that the moment is opportune to infiltrate into Tunisia".
Mr Essebsi said on Wednesday that more than 6,000 jobs would be given to people from the town of Kasserine.

The government also promised an investigation into allegations of corruption.


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