Protest deaths

SOME 219 people were killed and 510 injured during the violent protests that led to the ouster of Tunisian strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the head of a UN human rights mission said yesterday.

Bacre Ndiaye said 147 people had died since the popular revolt began in mid-December, while another 72 died in the country’s jails.

The head of the UN mission said these figures were not final and said the world body was continuing its investigations.

The previous UN death toll for the Tunisian anti- government uprising was “at least 100 dead”.

Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia last month after weeks of violent protests against his iron-fisted rule.