A revolution in Tunisia

Tunisians have become the first Arab people to overthrow a dictator in a popular uprising.

Tunisians poured into the streets demanding democracy this week after becoming the first Arab people to overthrow a dictator in a popular uprising. President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled the North African country for 23 years, fled after a month of demonstrations triggered by unemployment, reports of government corruption, and an unemployed university graduate’s self-immolation. The political elite quickly formed a unity government, but the Jasmine Revolution, named after the state flower, may not be over. Protesters demanded that members of Ben Ali’s inner circle be banned from government. Riot police sprayed crowds with tear gas. The unrest threatened to spread to other Arab nations as a dozen protesters in Egypt and Algeria set themselves on fire.

“The Arab people have reached a boiling point,” said Adla Massoud in HuffingtonPost.com. From North Africa to the Middle East, a “staggering” 25 percent of young people are unemployed. They want jobs, yet their despotic leaders wish only to cling to power. In Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak is entering his 30th year in office. In Libya, Muammar al-Qadaffi has been in power since 1969, while in Syria, the Assads have ruled since 1970. All are ripe for revolution.

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