Country
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Tunisia
Republic of Tunisia
al-Jumhuriyah al-Tunisiyah
Note: Sparked by rising unemployment, food prices, and government corruption, a major demonstration involving self-immolation was held in the city of Sidi Bouazid on December 17, 2010. News of this protest spread rapidly by means of social networking, and more like it subsequently flared up throughout Tunisia. Despite violent hostility from security forces, resulting in countless deaths, 1,000 protesters eventually reached Tunis by the end of December. By mid-January the number of protesters across Tunisia had grown substantially, and the country was in unrest, with countless demonstrations calling for the resignation of President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI. On January 14, Ben Ali dissolved the government, declared a state of emergency, and fled to Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI took over ...