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| Africa North |
| Ben Ali takes refuge in Saudi Arabia |
| 2011-01-16 |
| RIYADH - Saudi Arabia confirmed the former Tunisian president and his family had arrived in the kingdom early on Saturday morning to stay for an unspecified period of time. A Saudi official told Reuters Ben Ali was in the port city of Jeddah. “The kingdom welcomed the arrival of the President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and his family,” a statement on the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said. “The kingdom states its complete support for the Tunisian people and hopes all Tunisians stand together to overcome the difficult stage in their history,” SPA said. It said the royal court decision to welcome Ben Ali was based on appreciation of the “exceptional circumstances” Tunisia is going through. Saudi Arabia has a history of receiving deposed rulers and out-of-favour politicians. Former Uganda dictator Idi Amin spent his final years in Jeddah. |
| Posted by:Steve White |