Tunisia’s Ben Ali receives second life sentence 

A Tunisian military court has sentenced ousted president, Zine al-Abadine Ben Ali to life in absentia for his role in the killing of protesters in the uprising that swept him from power.
 
Ben Ali and his family fled the north African country on January 14 last year and is now in Saudi Arabia. He was sentenced to life last month in a civil court and Tunisia has now requested his extradition from Saudi Arabia.
 
The Tunisian uprising was the first in the series of rebellions that became known as the Arab Spring. In all, 338 people lost their lives before the regime fell.
 
Thursday’s hearing also handed down prison terms ranging from five to 20 years to the former interior minister, Ben Ali’s security chief and 38 other officials of the old regime. However three defendants had charges against them dropped.

Copyright © 2013 euronews