Death of Tunisian man during eviction from his kiosk provokes violent protests in Sbeitla

The Tunisian army intervened this Tuesday morning to protect the facilities of the government delegation in Kasserine, in the north-west of the country. The violent demonstrations followed the death of an elderly man inside his kiosk during its demolition by the authorities. 

The Prime Minister of Tunisia, Hichem Mechichi, has dismissed the Governor of Kasserine after security officials carried out the demolition of the kiosk. 

Defence Ministry spokesman Muhammad Zakri has confirmed the intervention of the National Army to protect public facilities and vital institutions in the Subaytilah delegation. The protection of the facilities has been carried out in coordination with the local security units after they issued a statement calling for reinforcements.

The death of this old man inside his kiosk has been a very painful blow to the Sbeitla delegation. The officers of the municipality did not realise that the man was inside the kiosk before the demolition. The Tunisian media have confirmed that the man was sleeping inside to avoid being robbed.

After the demolition of the kiosk, the residents of Sbeitla have demonstrated violently by closing the secondary roads in the area while shops and shops were closed. The security forces attacked the demonstrators who had burned down a police car in protest.

The official spokesman of the Kasserine Magistrate's Court, Riad al-Nawawi, said that the Prosecutor's Office had opened an investigation into the events. Al-Nawawi added, in a statement to the local media, that all the parties involved and witnesses will be summoned and their statements heard. It seems that the old man died inside the kiosk after the roof fell on him while he was sleeping inside.