TUNISIA: Three killed in protests against interim government

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Protests in Tunisian capital on Saturday left three dead and 12 wounded, as security forces clashed with youth opposing the interim government, Reuters reported.

An interim government has been in power since President Zine el Abidine ben Ali stepped down in January after sustained protests, which later touched off demonstrations throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The government is currently led by Prime Minister Mohamen Ghannouchi -- widely considered an ally of Ben Ali -- and his government has promised that elections will be held by July.

Demonstrations escalated Friday as protesters complained that the interim government was too close to that of the country’s deposed leader. There were reports of tear gas and bullets fired in the air in the capital of Tunis on Friday, and violence has spread throughout the country since the uprisings last month.

Authorities have temporarily banned vehicle and pedestrian traffic on the main boulevard of Tunis.

-- Alana Semuels