Thousands of Tunisian police, security forces protest

[Joanne98]

Source: Reuters

TUNIS Jan 22 (Reuters) - Thousands of Tunisian police, national guard, firemen and street cleaners thronged central Tunis on Saturday, distancing themselves from deposed president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in the largest demonstration for days.

The protest marks a turning point in the Tunisian uprising, throughout which Ben Ali loyalists in the police force fired on crowds, beat protesters with batons and shot teargas even at relatively small and peaceful gatherings.

"We came out today because we want national reconciliation," said a policeman who identified himself as Hatem. "Many people in the security forces were wrong... some ignorant people sullied our reputation ... People know now."

Tunisia's interior minister has said 78 people have been killed since the start of the demonstrations, but the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights put the number at 117, including 70 killed by live fire.



Read more: http://af.reuters.com/article/tunisiaNews/idAFLDE70L05W20110122