Tunisian Police Kill 2, Injure 17

Protest turned violent after police chief slapped a woman

By Mark Russell, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 6, 2011 5:24 AM CST

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Tunisian Police Kill 2, Injure 17 — FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 24, 2011 picture, protestors shout slogans during a demonstration in Tunis, Tunisia against holdovers from former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's regime in the interim government. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Two people were killed by police gunfire and 17 were injured in northwestern Tunisia yesterday, after a local police chief allegedly slapped a woman during a demonstration, causing protesters to turn against the police. About 1,000 people threw stones and small firebombs at the local police station, burning two cars, causing police to fire tear gas into the crowd and warning shots overheard. When the crowd would not disperse, police fired into them, reports the AP.

The clash between police and protesters was the most violent since Tunisia's former president resigned and fled the country on Jan. 14. Tunisia's Interior Ministry said the police chief was hospitalized but under arrest, and investigators were being sent to the town of Kef, where the violence happened.
(More Tunisia stories.)

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