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Middle East and North Africa

Moscow concerned over outbreak of violence in Tunisia

According to incoming reports, more than 60 police were wounded and some 100 people were detained

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, June 13 (Itar-Tass) —— Moscow is concerned over the outbreak of violence in friendly Tunisia and calls on citizens of that country to show self-control and tolerance, sources in the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

“Riots swept various areas of Tunisia, including the country’s capital, in the recent days. They were provoked by local radical religious circles in protest against an exhibition in a suburb of Tunis which, in their opinion, insulted Muslims’ dignity,” sources in the Russian Foreign Ministry said. “Police stations, other state institutions and political parties’ offices were raided; property of ordinary citizens was damaged, too.”

According to incoming reports, more than 60 police were wounded and some 100 people were detained. The Tunisian government on June 12 imposed a curfew in eight provinces of the country, also in the capital to operate from nine p.m. to five a.m. local time. .

“Moscow is concerned over the outbreak of violence in friendly Tunisia,” sources in the Russian Foreign Ministry said. “We urge all Tunisians to show self-control and tolerance so that arising problems could be solved in the framework of democratic procedure and a broad dialogue.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry holds that “this guarantees effective peaceful follow-up of fundamental transformations made after the January 2011 revolution in the interests of all citizens of the country and its further sustainable development.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry at the same time suggests that Russian citizens in Tunisia should show caution and stay away from places where mass protest rallies are held.

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