Algeria
Violence in both the above neighbouring states has spiralled in recent days as the regimes have resorted to increasingly desperate and bloody tactics to bring them under control. Al-Jazeera is now reporting that as many as 20 people have been killed in Tunisia in the past 24-hours as the government has resorted to using live-bullets against its own people. A real sign of desperation on the part of the Ben Ali dictatorship if ever there was one. AFP has also been reporting on events and the mainstream media are now starting to take a greater interest as the violence escalates, see here and here. There is currently a media blackout in Tunisia but local blogs place the death toll much higher.
Some scenes of the rioting can be viewed here.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Algeria protests are continuing unabated and have spread with rioting taking place in Skikda, Sale, Constantine, Batna, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Tebessa, Guelma and Annaba. The official state media have reported two deaths. The rioting is both countries is being driven by the same factors: High unemployment and rising prices, combined with frustration at political systems run by a small cabal of politicians and their military and business cronies. More info on the situation in Algeria can be found here.
p.s. Here is some interesting analysis by Marc Lynch on the recent protests in the MENA region, including the riots in Jordan and events in Egypt.
