Tunisia seeks to track deposed leader’s assets

TUNISIA’S interim leadership promised a “complete break with the past” and freed political prisoners yesterday in efforts to appease street protesters who want a total purge of the old guard from a unity government.

Five days after veteran strongman Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia with some of his wealthy entourage, former political allies including the prime minister were trying to coax opposition figures into a national unity government which can restore order and oversee promised free elections.

Tunisia and Switzerland also moved to track down assets believed squirrelled away overseas by deposed former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his deeply resented family, who fled the country amid violent protests.