Tunisia President ratin pala yai
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia on Saturday officially announced that it was hosting toppled Tunisian President Zine Al Abidine Bin Ali and his family after they fled their country.
A palace statement carried by the official SPA news agency confirmed that Bin Ali arrived early on Saturday in the kingdom after fleeing Tunisia on Friday in a dramatic end to his 23 years in power following deadly protests.
"Out of concern for the exceptional circumstances facing the brotherly Tunisian people and in support of the security and stability of their country... the Saudi government has welcomed President Zine Al Abidine Bin Ali and his family to the kingdom," the statement said.
Before flying out of Tunis, Bin Ali signed a decree handing interim presidential powers to Prime Minister Mohammad Ghannouchi.
His immediate destination was shrouded in mystery and fuelled much speculation in the media, with some reports suggesting he was heading to France, while others said he was going to Malta or Italy.
On Friday his plane had flown over Malta as it headed further north after the Tunisian president fled his embattled country, officials in Malta said.
"The plane made contact with the control tower asking for permission to enter Malta's air space. The plane is going north," a foreign minister spokesman told AFP.
At the same time rumours swept the Internet suggesting that Bin Ali was hoping to find exile in Malta or Italy while other reports suggested he would make his way to France.
In Valletta, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said: "Bin Ali is not coming to Malta and the government has no indications he'll be coming to Malta." Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said.
The Italian foreign ministry said Bin Ali was "absolutely not" on his way to Rome, and the rumours were "unfounded."
France also said it does not want Bin Ali to seek a bolthole on its territory and the foreign ministry in Paris formally confirmed that the ousted Tunisian president had not asked for asylum.
Late on Friday a civilian plane thought to be carrying Bin Ali refuelled at Cagliari airport in Sardinia, Italian government sources said.
The passengers stayed on the plane during the refuelling in southern Italy and told authorities there were "two pilots and a hostess," onboard, the sources told AFP.
Italian government sources later said that Bin Ali was not on that plane.
The Tunisian president's departure represents the first time that an Arab leader has been forced to leave office by pressure from public protests.
The rare protests in tightly controlled Tunisia were unleashed by the suicide attempt last month of Mohammad Bouazizi, who set himself on fire after police prevented him from selling fruit and vegetables to make a living.
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia on Saturday officially announced that it was hosting toppled Tunisian President Zine Al Abidine Bin Ali and his family after they fled their country.
A palace statement carried by the official SPA news agency confirmed that Bin Ali arrived early on Saturday in the kingdom after fleeing Tunisia on Friday in a dramatic end to his 23 years in power following deadly protests.
"Out of concern for the exceptional circumstances facing the brotherly Tunisian people and in support of the security and stability of their country... the Saudi government has welcomed President Zine Al Abidine Bin Ali and his family to the kingdom," the statement said.
Before flying out of Tunis, Bin Ali signed a decree handing interim presidential powers to Prime Minister Mohammad Ghannouchi.
His immediate destination was shrouded in mystery and fuelled much speculation in the media, with some reports suggesting he was heading to France, while others said he was going to Malta or Italy.
On Friday his plane had flown over Malta as it headed further north after the Tunisian president fled his embattled country, officials in Malta said.
"The plane made contact with the control tower asking for permission to enter Malta's air space. The plane is going north," a foreign minister spokesman told AFP.
At the same time rumours swept the Internet suggesting that Bin Ali was hoping to find exile in Malta or Italy while other reports suggested he would make his way to France.
In Valletta, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said: "Bin Ali is not coming to Malta and the government has no indications he'll be coming to Malta." Foreign Affairs Minister Tonio Borg said.
The Italian foreign ministry said Bin Ali was "absolutely not" on his way to Rome, and the rumours were "unfounded."
France also said it does not want Bin Ali to seek a bolthole on its territory and the foreign ministry in Paris formally confirmed that the ousted Tunisian president had not asked for asylum.
Late on Friday a civilian plane thought to be carrying Bin Ali refuelled at Cagliari airport in Sardinia, Italian government sources said.
The passengers stayed on the plane during the refuelling in southern Italy and told authorities there were "two pilots and a hostess," onboard, the sources told AFP.
Italian government sources later said that Bin Ali was not on that plane.
The Tunisian president's departure represents the first time that an Arab leader has been forced to leave office by pressure from public protests.
The rare protests in tightly controlled Tunisia were unleashed by the suicide attempt last month of Mohammad Bouazizi, who set himself on fire after police prevented him from selling fruit and vegetables to make a living.
Last edited:
