BBC News, 11
April 2013
Tunisian
rebirth
 |
| Former Tunisian President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali and his wife Laila Trabelsi fled Tunisia |
The money
was recovered by the United Nations' Stolen Asset Recovery team, reports
Tunisia's state news agency.
Mr Ben Ali
fled Tunisia in January 2011 following popular protests which ended his 23-year
rule at the start of what became known as the Arab Spring.
The cheque
for $29m was handed to President Moncef Marzouki by the UN's Ali bin Fetais
al-Marri, reports TAP.
Mr al-Marri
was appointed by the UN to head efforts to recover money from leaders
overthrown in Arab uprisings.
The money
had reportedly been held in a Lebanese bank account belonging to Laila
Trabelsi, the wife of Mr Ben Ali. She is believed to have fled to Saudi Arabia
with Mr Ben Ali after the uprisings.
Difficult
economic times mean that Tunisia's Islamist-led government face popular pressure
to recover the remaining money.
However
there have been political and legal difficulties in gaining access to accounts
where the money is believed to be held,.
The Tunis
government has requested a $1.78bn IMF loan, which is being discussed this week.
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