This didn't really fit anywhere else...

 

Anyone been following this? Tunisia, a moderate and heavily tourist-dependent country, has been having increasing economic problems over the past decade, and has been under pretty much authoritarian rule for a couple decades. Tension began boiling over recently over unemployment and improper or corrupt government/police activities. Violent protests and riots started a few days back, and are getting worse.

 

Today, the President of 23 years, fled the country, leaving the PM in charge.

 

If they become a Democracy then maybe this is a good thing.

will people be praising wikileaks?!

Also on that continent, Sudan may be either peacefully dividing, or heading towards another civil war. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?News...=sudan&Cr1=

Thurs., 20/1/2011: According to Le Canard Enchaîné it was US generals who convinced their Tunisian counterparts to turn against Ben Ali. This allegedly is what led to his fleeing the country. The French diplomatic corps and secret service were caught completely off-guard.

 

“America took control of the situation.” This quote is attributed to Michèle Alliot-Marie, France’s Foreign Minister. According to Le Canard Enchaîné, she admitted in private last Monday that American generals spoke to their Tunisian counterparts and put pressure on them to turn on Ben Ali. It seems this is what sparked the Tunisian President’s sudden departure from the country. “We were in a fog of confusion the whole time,” Alliot-Marie allegedly confessed, admitting that France’s diplomatic corps and secret service were caught off guard. “Needless to say, the Americans did not keep us informed.”

 

The paper shines the light on the frustration of French authorities at their poor understanding and handling of the Tunisian crisis. Defense Minister Alain Juppé reportedly said, “It is incredible that we were discovering via radio and television what was happening in a country with which we have such close relations.”

Interesting