Tunisia arrests 4 in anti-corruption drive

Tunisians mourn at the funeral of protester Anouar Sakrafi, in his hometown of Bir Lahmar in the southern Tunisian province of Tatatouine, on May 23. Sakrafi died of wounds sustained on May 22, when he was run over by a national guard vehicle during clashes with security forces as protesters tried to storm El Kamour petroleum

pumping plant, 500 kms (300 miles) south of the capital Tunis. (AFP) Four people, including prominent businessmen, have been arrested in Tunisia on suspicion of corruption and financing a wave of protests in the North African country, a senior official said Wednesday.

The official, on condition of anonymity, told AFP that businessmen Chafik Jarraya, Yassine Chennoufi and Nejib Ben Ismail along with customs officer Ridha Ayari were arrested Tuesday “under the state of emergency” in force in Tunisia since November 2015.

“They are implicated in affairs of corruption and suspected of plotting against state security through incitement and alleged financing of the protest movements in Tataouine and other regions,” he said.

A young man, Anouar Sakrafi, died of injuries suffered Monday when he was run over by a national guard vehicle during clashes with security forces at an oil and gas plant in the southern desert region of Tataouine, the scene of long-running protests over joblessness.

Security forces fired tear-gas as protesters tried to storm the El Kamour facility, radio reports said.

Several dozen people were wounded in the clashes, including around 20 security personnel. But the government said Sakrafi’s killing was accidental. Protesters have been camped outside the El Kamour pumping plant for about a month, blocking trucks from entering, to demand a share of resources and employment in the sector.

Clashes also erupted between protesters and security forces on Monday in the city of Tataouine, where buildings on Tuesday showed evidence of having been set alight. (AFP)