Tunisia unrest leaves 20 dead

Tunisia’s opposition party, the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), says at least 20 people have been killed in the ongoing anti-government protests.

The PDP says police have shot dead at least twenty protesters in two central towns of Kasserine and Tala.

“Reports reaching us from Kasserine and Tala speak of at least 20 killed by bullets in the clashes which were continuing this morning,” said Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, head of the PDP.

Chebbi appealed to Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali ‘to call an immediate ceasefire to spare the lives of innocent citizens.’

The PDP also says funeral processions for the victims have also been fired on.

The government has so far confirmed that eight people have been killed in the clashes, which started on Saturday midnight and stretched into Sunday. Reports say many have been seriously wounded in the clashes.

Tunisia has been the scene of protests for nearly a month now.

The opposition says protests are driven by unemployment and high living costs. However, officials claim the unrest is the work of a minority of extremists bent on damaging the country.