Calm returns to Om Laarayes after clashes

The Tunisian city of Om Laarayes was calm on Monday after clashes raged during the weekend between security forces and local unemployed youth. The fighting took place in the wake of an announcement of the results of job interviews for hiring 605 employees for a phosphate company in Tunisia's Gafsa porvince (southwest of Tunis) where the city is located.. Eyewitnesses said to Arabstoday: “The atmosphere is now calm compared to the past two days, however, government offices, shops, schools remained closed for fear of further clashes.” A curfew has been imposed on the city since Saturday, from 7pm to 5am. Clashes renewed on Sunday evening between local youth and security forces stationed at city entrances to public and private institutions. Gafsa's local radio station said: “Groups of young people threw stones and Molotov cocktails at police, while security forces used tear gas to disperse the groups. At least two armoured vehicles were used to launch tear gas and remove barriers set by protesters to disrupt their advance.” Interestingly, Om Laarayes and its neighbouring cities had launched an unprecedented uprising in 2008, but the regime of ousted leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali suppressed the movement and imposed a media blackout on coverage of the events.