TUNIS: Former Tunisian president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali and his wife Leila Trabelsi have been charged with “plotting against the internal security of the state”, the Justice Ministry announced Wednesday. Charges also include the “instigation of disorder, murders and looting”, TAP news agency quoted the ministry as saying. A court in the central city of Sousse is also looking into whether the death of four youths who were shot dead in Ouardanine during the unrest that led to Ben Ali's downfall, can be linked to the former presidential couple and a nephew. Families of the four accuse security forces of having ordered to shoot demonstrators opposing the flight of the nephew, Kais Ben Ali, TAP said. In all, the former strongman faces 18 lawsuits including homicide, drug use and drug trafficking, said Justice Minister Lazhar Karoui Chebbi. – Agence France
