Tunisia - armed gangs continue to loot and burn

Image via WikipediaIn the capital of Tunis and other areas of the country, residents reported knife-wielding and balaclava-clad gangs attacking apartments and homes. Organised groups were said to be attacking shops, hospitals and factories. Many had piled into stolen hire cars and careered around the city and suburbs, stopping only to smash and burn.

One young lawyer who hastily left his office in the centre of Tunis for the quieter southern suburbs said: "There's complete confusion and everyone is trying to understand who is behind this, whether it's Ben Ali's militia clinging on. Yes, there has been isolated looting of shops. But the gangs seem organised; they are inciting thieves.

"They seem to be making trouble to convince public opinion that things were better under the dictatorship. Joy has turned to extreme caution and fear for people's safety." Read more...