Police fire warning shots at protesters in Tunisia

SIDI BOUZID, Tunisia - Agence France-Presse

Riot police chase after protesters in the Ettadhamen district of the capital Tunis in this June 12, 2012 file photo. REUTERS photo

Police fired warning shots and tear gas yesterday to disperse protesters who attacked provincial government headquarters in the town where Tunisia’s revolution was born.

Demonstrators also tried to torch the local headquarters of the ruling Islamist party Ennahda, after some of them broke down the door and sacked the offices. Dozens of people, angry over their living conditions, converged on the government building in Sidi Bouzid and set fire to a tyre, which they threw inside.

Police responded with warning shots and tear gas, as demonstrators shouted “Ben Ali’s police are back,” in reference to the long-time dictator driven from office last year by a popular revolt.

The ministry said about 150 people, day workers demanding to be paid, were involved. Union sources said more than 1,000 people took part. Calm was eventually restored, the interior ministry said, and no was one hurt.