Tunisian ex-president to be tried

Mr Ben Ali, seen with his wife in this photo from 2009, ruled Tunisia for 23 years

The trial of ousted Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali will begin on 20 June, the country’s interim prime minister has said.

Mr Ali fled to Saudi Arabia after he was toppled by mass protests in mid-January, after 23 years in power.

He and his associates, who face 90 charges, will be tried in absentia in both a military and a civilian court.

Interim PM Beji Caid Essebsi said Saudi authorities had not replied to requests to hand over the former president.

“I am announcing it for the first time, the trial will start on the 20th,” Mr Essebsi told al-Jazeera television.

Tunisia’s new authorities are preparing to try him and his wife, Leila Trabelsi, on drugs, guns and graft charges in absentia, AFP reports.

Initial charges against him will relate to the discovery of cash, weapons and drugs in presidential palaces.

This includes almost 2kg (4.4lbs) of drugs, believed to cannabis, and $27m (£16.4m; 18.7m euros) in cash.

Mr Ali’s lawyer has described the trial as a “masquerade”.

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