Tunis, Tunisia - Former Tunisian President Zine El Abedine Ben Ali, toppled 14 January by a popular uprising, is facing an 18-count charge, according to Justice Minister Lazhar Karoui Chebbi. Charges against the deposed president include 'conspiracy against state security, voluntary manslaughter, use and trafficking of drugs,' the minister said on Tunisian television. He announced that a delegation from the Ministries of Justice and the Interior would travel to Lyon, France, where Interpol is based, to expedite the execution of summons. Tunisian judicial authorities had announced 26 January that they had sought help from Interpol to arrest Ben Ali, his wife Leila Trabelsi and other members of his family, who fled the country to Saudi Arabia during the revolution.

The Minister reiterated the government's commitment to recover the money stashed in foreign banks by Ben Ali and to execute international arrest warrants, through bilateral agreements on mutual legal assistance or international conventions with countries with which Tunisia is not bound by bilateral agreements.

On Wednesday, a warrant was issued by the judge of a Tunis court which interrogated, on the same day, the former minister Abderrahim Zouari.

The judicial authorities did not give details of the charges against Mr. Zouari, 67, who held many ministerial positions including Justice, Foreign Affairs, Sports, Education and tourism under Ben Ali.

Pana 16/04/2011