Tunisian president has vowed in a live TV speech that 300,000 extra jobs will be created. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has also described the violent protests over high unemployment and cost of living as "terrorist acts."
"The events were violent, sometimes bloody, and caused the death of civilians and wounded several members of the security forces," he said on Monday. "The events were the work of masked gangs that attacked at night government buildings and even civilians inside their homes in a terrorist act that cannot be overlooked."
Earlier, Ben Ali was quoted as saying the riots were unacceptable and could harm the country's interests by discouraging investors and tourists. And on Monday, Tunisia's education ministry announced that all schools and universities in the country would remain closed until further notice.
"Following violence in universities and lycees, and while awaiting an investigation to establish who was responsible for inciting students, we have decided to stop all the lessons in all educational establishments ... from tomorrow, Tuesday, until further notice," Tunisia's TAP news agency quoted the education ministry as saying.
