In January, 2011, anti-government demonstrations flared up in many Tunisian towns and cities forcing President Ben Ali to flee the country. As an attempt to establish stability, three days after Ali's flight, Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi established a new coalition government. Unhappy with the fact that the new government retained many members of the former ruling party, demonstrations intensified.
The previous month, fruit vendor Mohamed Bouazizi, had set himself on fire in protest the government's confiscation of his cart. As word of Bouazizi's suicide spread, thousands of workers, students...