Tunisian president flees as rioting protestors force him from power

TUNISIA’S president was yesterday forced out of office following protests in which thousands mobbed the capital to demand his ouster.

State television announced that President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali had fled to Malta and would be replaced temporarily by Mohamed El Ghannouchi, the prime minister.

During yesterday, gunfire rang out across Tunis, clouds of tear gas filled the streets and police beat any protesters they could grab.