Tunisia asks Canada to arrest ex-president's brother

BBC News, 28 January 2011

Tunisia has asked Canadian authorities to arrest Belhassen Trabelsi, the brother-in-law of former Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Canadian police inspected a hotel in Montreal from
which it is believed Mr Trabelsi fled on Thursday

Canada has revoked Mr Trabelsi's residency permit, which Canadian officials say he failed to maintain.

Mr Trabelsi and his family reportedly arrived in the city of Montreal on a private jet last week after Mr Ben Ali was ousted from power.

Protests forced Mr Ben Ali, his family and associates to leave Tunisia.

"The embassy here in Ottawa has today officially asked Canadian authorities to arrest Belhassen Trabelsi," embassy adviser Nejmeddine Lakhal told the BBC on Friday.

'On the run'

Mouldi Sakri, Tunisia's ambassador to Canada, also told local media that Tunisia had asked Canada to issue an arrest warrant against Mr Trabelsi to help bring him to justice in Tunisia.

It is believed Mr Trabelsi and his family fled the Chateau Vaudreuil Suites Hotel in Montreal on Thursday, and their whereabouts remain unknown.

It is unclear how long Mr Trabelsi had residency status, which allows non-Canadian citizens to live in the country and can require a lengthy application process.

Tunisia turmoil

• 'Speakers' corner'
• Will returnees re-ignite revolt?
• Key players now
• Q&A: Tunisia crisis

Mr Ben Ali, who was president for 23 years, was forced from power this month by a series of protests against poverty and corruption.

The former president fled with his wife to Saudi Arabia.

Interpol also issued an alert for the arrest of Mr Ben Ali and his family on request from Tunisia.

The international police agency said member states had been asked to "search, locate and provisionally arrest Mr Ali and his relatives".

But Canadian authorities did not act, saying the request did not constitute an arrest warrant.

"The Canadian law enforcement agency of jurisdiction would only become involved once an official request to investigate has been received through the Interpol network or other formal channels," Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokeswoman Lucy Shorey said earlier this week.

The Tunisian embassy in Ottawa said it had not yet received a response to its request for the arrest Mr Trabelsi.

During a recent trip to Morocco, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said members of Tunisia's former regime were not welcome in Canada.

Related Articles:

Canada talks of freezing assets of Tunisia's ex-rulers

Canada in bid to expel Tunisian Belhassen Trabelsi