Tunisia closes its Qatar embassy in protest of al-Jazeera interview

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Wednesday October 25, 2006

Cairo- Tunisia has closed its embassy in Qatar in protest at Qatar-based al-Jazeera television broadcasting an interview with Tunisian exile al Munsef al-Masuqi, Tunisia's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. The ministry said accusations by al-Masuqi that there was no freedom opinion in Tunisia were "harmful to our country's reputation."

Al-Masuqi, an opposition politician living in Paris, also called for a Tunisian campaign of "peaceful civil disobedience" in the October 15 interview.

A warrant for his arrest was issued in Tunisia five years ago, alleging he had called for violent protest.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency