Prosecutors seek trial of Ben Ali for drug trafficking, murder

AFP - Tunisian prosecutors want to try toppled president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali on a total of 18 different charges, including murder and drug-trafficking, according to the country's justice minister.

"The accusations include murder, conspiracy against the state as well as trafficking and the use of drugs," Lazhar Karoui Chebbi said in an interview with national television late Wednesday.

It is the first time that authorities have given a full tally of the charges that Ben Ali will face if he is extradited to the country that he ruled with an iron fist for 23 years. The government had previously confirmed that he was wanted for murder and incitement.

Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia after he was forced from office on January 14 by a nationwide uprising, is the subject of an international arrest warrant filed on January 26. His second wife Leila Trabelsi is also wanted.